InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Absolution's Pursuit ❯ Into the Mountains ( Chapter 21 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Absolution’s Pursuit

Into the Mountains

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Morning arrived far earlier than either miko or daiyoukai would have liked, bringing with it heavy, oppressive remnants of moisture from the night before. In the east, the bright yellow sun spilled languidly through a scattering of thick clouds, its feeble but strengthening warmth slowly chasing away the previous chill. Lifted by the gentle breeze, silver and black tresses danced and twirled, mingling together briefly before gradually settling back into their respective places.  

Kagome adjusted her quiver against her back and drew a deep breath, recalling the miko who’d given her a new bow and extra arrows.  

Misako, an older, yet impossibly beautiful woman with long brown hair, had accompanied the headman’s wife this morning; bringing with her a heavy quiver of arrows and a long bow. After a brief introduction by the wary headwoman, the priestess moved forward, standing before she and Sesshoumaru as if sizing them up, her features tight with disapproval.

Looking between them, the priestess gave a slight shake of her head, her expression one of disappointment. “A priestess of such power,” she’d muttered to herself. “How very unfortunate…”

Scowling, Kagome was about to ask just what she’d meant by that when the woman pressed on, unperturbed. “Your reasons for associating with this… demon.” she spat, “are your own and I will not question them, in spite of my perverse curiosity. Clearly you care for him, and it is your prerogative to do so. However, I do not know what it is you expect to accomplish.” She sighed, visibly frustrated. “Though I do not approve of the company you choose to keep, I feel obligated, as a miko, to aid you as best I can.” She tersely handed over the bow and arrows. “May these weapons serve you well.” she added tightly before turning to walk a way.

She’d only taken a couple of steps before turning back to face Kagome once more.
“The gods have smiled upon us young priestess,” she said, “you’ll learn that soon enough!”  

And with that, the elder miko spun on her heel, her dark hair swishing behind her as she purposefully strode back the way she’d come.

“Well,” Kagome huffed, loud enough to be heard by the retreating female. “That was extremely rude!”

The headwoman chuckled uncomfortably. “Misako-sama’s candor can be a bit jarring for those who do not know her well. Please accept my apology if she has offended you. She is a good woman and a powerful priestess, but can be rather stubborn and outspoken at times.

Scarcely touched by the headwoman’s words, a scowling Kagome was sorely tempted to toss the weapons to the ground and storm off into the mountains without them! Misako didn’t even know Sesshoumaru; would hardly even look at him! All she knew was that he was a demon, and she’d immediately assumed he was bad! Whatever good intentions the woman thought she had, the plain and simple truth was that it was people like her who polluted the world with hate and violence.  

After stewing in her displeasure for another moment or two, Kagome finally decided to let it go, breathing out the last of her frustration with a heavy sigh. In a way, she realized, she felt sorry for Misako and her one-sided thinking.

The young miko finally turned her attention back to the headwoman and smiled politely. “Thank you for all your help and for letting us stay in your village.” she said, a curt bow accompanying her words.

The woman bowed in turn. “You are most welcome Miko-sama. I wish you a safe journey.”

“Thank you.” she said, before turning to face her companion. She was only slightly surprised to see that he had already turned away and moved several paces in the other direction. When he paused, presumably to wait for her, she took another moment to settle her new weapons into place before breaking into a light jog to catch up with him.

Now, here they were, standing side by side, gazing upon their destination, each lost to their own thoughts.

“Well,” Kagome finally spoke up, trying to keep the tickle of nervousness from her voice, “those mountains aren’t going to climb itself.”

“Indeed.” Sesshoumaru murmured, sounding distracted.

A stiff breeze washed over them, bringing with it a chill that skated down Kagome’s spine. ‘I’m not afraid!’ she thought stubbornly. And  it was true, she wasn’t afraid of the demons she knew were up there. Instead, she was simply nervous; nervous about what was going to happen, about what would happen to…

“Come,” the inu lord finally spoke up.  

Startled from her train of thought, Kagome looked to her companion, only to find that he had taken to one knee, his hair pushed aside as he offered her his back.

“You’re going to carry me?” she asked, tentatively moving forward.

Really, she found herself a bit surprised that he would offer her his back, much the way Inuyasha had always done. Not  that he hadn’t carried her before, but when he had, it was normally just a brief grab around the waist to leap over an obstacle or two.

The daiyoukai felt her small hands on his shoulders and closed his eyes as a pleasant, inopportune warmth washed over him. Exhaling slowly as she moved in even closer, pressing her body against his back, he willed himself to focus on the matter at hand. “It will allow us to move more quickly.” he told her, standing as he cupped his hands against her thighs. “I have no wish to remain in the mountains longer than necessary.”

“Okay,” the miko said, her heart racing at the feel of his warm hands against her. Maybe she wasn’t remembering correctly, but she couldn’t recall ever having felt this way when Inuyasha had carried her.

Before she could ponder the issue any further, the daiyoukai took off, stealing her breath away with his unearthly speed. She instinctively tightened her grip on his shoulders, peering over the tickling hairs of his enormous pelt as they headed into the mountains.

Glancing above them, Sesshoumaru noted waning streaks of yellow stretched infinitely across the sky. As they always did, he knew they would soon give way to deepening shades of gold, orange and red as the sun began it’s westward descent. This long, fruitless day of searching was coming to an end and he and Kagome would be forced to remain in the mountains overnight. He had hoped to avoid that.

The youkai, that even now were trailing them, would become emboldened by the coming darkness and thus much more likely to attack. There were hundreds of them, perhaps even thousands…

The daiyoukai frowned, displeased with the possibilities a confrontation could yield.

The day had been a long one. Pausing only when strictly necessary, they had managed to cover a lot of ground, though had accomplished very little.

Aside from the hoards of demons here, Sesshoumaru had become aware of another presence as well. Powerful and seemingly benevolent, he could tell that the being was not youkai, and instinctively knew that whatever it was, it held the answer to his predicament. What was frustrating however, was the fact that whatever it was, he could never seem to close the distance on it, no matter how fast or how far he traveled into the mountainous peaks.

What did it expect of him? What was it attempting to do? It seemed only to be observing his and Kagome’s trek through the mountains, without revealing itself or interfering with anything they did. It was vexing, to say the very least.

Slowing, Sesshoumaru finally came to a stop, allowing the female to slide from his back. They had reached the summit, and even though there was still so much ground to cover, the inu lord had already resigned himself to a night in the mountains. Inhaling deeply, he noted that, though they were fairly high up, it was unusually warm up here. Ahead of them the mountains sprawled and sloped, gently stretching to the edge of the sea. Off to the right of where they stood, he spotted a sizable plateau, peppered with tall pines and carpeted with a sparse layer of grass.

Though he dreaded remaining in the mountains any longer than what was strictly necessary, the inu could take some level of comfort in the fact that the benevolent entity was not continuing to move away from them. It seemed to pause as they did, so in the morning, when he began to pursue it again, at least it would be no further away than it already was.

“Wow,” the miko finally spoke up, stepping from behind him. “You can see everything from up here. The shimmering blue sea, breathtaking in its immense size alone, was truly a sight to behold! Its surface rippled and shimmered, and she couldn’t help but reach out, as if to touch its dazzling surface. “Had I ever thought about it,” she whispered, almost to herself, “I would have thought I’d be terrified to see a body of water so huge.” She looked at Sesshoumaru then. “But it’s absolutely beautiful.”  

He held her gaze, and for a moment, found himself captured in the endearing, childlike awe she exuded.

He felt compelled to touch her, and settled on sweeping her overgrown bangs away from her eyes, gently tucking the dark strands behind her ear.

“Come.” he said, slowly pivoting away from her. Blushing, the miko followed him down a rocky slope, watching her steps carefully until they arrived on a relatively level plateau.

“We will camp here for the night,” the daiyoukai announced, abruptly pausing ahead of her.

Frowning, Kagome moved to stand in front of him. “You want to stop now?” she demanded, “Why would you want to do that? I know you’re not tired, and we haven’t found,” she paused, throwing her hands up in a helpless gesture, “whatever it is we’re looking for! We can’t stop now!”

He glared down at her, one thin brow lifting into his bangs. “We can and we will.” he said, his tone brooking no argument.

“But there’s no reason to!” she pressed on. “There’s something here Sesshoumaru, I can feel it! I don‘t really know what it is, but I’m pretty sure it can help us and we need to find it!”

‘So,’ the daiyoukai thought, not really surprised by this new revelation, ‘she can sense the entity too.’ This at least, confirmed that he was not simply imagining the strange, ethereal presence he knew was around here somewhere.

“It can wait,” he insisted after a brief pause. “We will make camp for the night, and resume our pursuit in the morning.”

The miko stomped her foot, evidently dissatisfied with this turn of events. “But this is important Sesshoumaru! Why can’t we just keep going?!”

The youkai resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, frustrated with the notion of having to explain his actions. He was unaccustomed to such things, but knew the woman would not let it be until her questions were satisfactorily answered.

“Kagome,” he all but sighed, “I have offered to see to your safety and have no desire to go back on my word. But you have also proven yourself able and willing to stand in your own defense. Should it become necessary for you to fight, the odds of your survival could be greatly jeopardized if you were too exhausted to do so.”

The miko gasped softly, feeling chastised. Not only was he stopping for her benefit, but he had also, without saying it outright, expressed a level of confidence in her abilities. She almost didn’t know what to say.

“But,” she finally spoke up, her tone more subdued, “I’m not tired. Not really.”

“It matters not,” he told her, turning away to stare at the sea. “You are human and require nightly rest. Your body will only weaken without it.”

There was no condescension in his voice, he was merely stating a plain and simple truth. Crestfallen, the miko hung her head, her bangs again falling to cover her eyes. He was right and she felt terrible; like she was holding him back. She’d insisted on coming here with him, and now she’d made herself a hindrance, just like he said she would.

“Sesshoumaru,” she said, voice grainy with barely repressed emotion, “I don’t mean to hold you back. I’m so sorr--”

“Don’t,” the inu lord cut her off, sounding almost angry. “We have already discussed this. You will not apologize for accepting that which was freely offered.”

For a moment neither of them spoke, before he finally closed the distance between them once again; he needed to see that miserable expression removed from her face. “We are in this together now, you said that yourself.”

Slowly, delicately, he cupped his hand against her cheek, the tips of his claws subtly weaving into her hair. She responded by looking up at him, her eyes wide and glistening. The pad of his thumb moved across her cheek, taking with it a trail of moisture. “There are many demons in this place, and they will exploit any weakness we avail to them.” he said, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at her, “I need you to be strong, both mentally and physically. Do you understand?”

And there was something in his voice, something dire, serious and almost desperate, though she couldn’t quite name what it was. The message, however, was clear. As he’d said, there were lots of demons here, she could feel it herself. There were so many in fact, that if and when they did attack even he, Sesshoumaru was unsure whether or not he would be able to hold them off on his own. He needed her to fight with him, needed her to be strong and stand by his side. And, she realized, almost overwhelmed at the implications, he cared. Beyond the promise he’d made, he genuinely didn’t want to see her harmed.

Somewhere along the way, his view of her had changed. In the beginning, she had simply been an unwanted charge, someone he was bound to protect for the sake of his own honor. Now, he seemed to view her as more of an equal, and while he still intended to protect her, he also expected her to stand by his side and to fight with him. Did he truly have that much confidence in her abilities?

“Yes,” she finally answered. “I understand.”

“Good.”


The hour was approaching midnight, and the night was nearly pitch black. The half moon hung in the sky; a gentle breeze stirred and fluttered, rustling the grasses and trees. A small, waning fire crackled obliviously as dark shadows seemed to creep in from every corner of the encampment.

Slowly, Kagome opened her eyes, rousing from her sleep and pushing tousled hair from her face. Looking up, she was not surprised to find Sesshoumaru already on his feet, his fist clenched at his sides. She began to pull herself up, instinctively reaching for her bow and arrows.

And then, her dreaded thoughts were uttered from Sesshoumaru’s lips.

“We are surrounded.”

Her heart leaping into her throat, the miko was quickly on her feet, settling her weapons and moving to place her back against his. She pulled an arrow, notching it against her bowstring as her companion drew his blade. The sound of metal sliding from its sheath sent a chill skating down her spine, but Kagome held her ground, setting her jaw and preparing to let loose her arrow at the first sign of movement.

The moment seemed to draw out, as she and Sesshoumaru stood back to back, each gazing into the surrounding woods as they waited for the first youkai to make its move. Catching a glimpse of Bakusaiga from the corner of her eye, Kagome suddenly recalled something that chilled her to the bone, an unpleasant weight sinking into the pit of her stomach.

Demon blades, though typically powerful in their own rights, also drew enormous amounts of energy from their wielder. Under normal circumstances this would not represent a problem, but since Sesshoumaru’s youki was merely held in stasis, hardly replenishing itself at all, using the blade could present a very serious problem. The fact that he drew it, that he’d even chance it at all, spoke volumes as to the danger they must be in.

“Sesshoumaru,” she whispered urgently, barely managing to keep her voice steady, “Are you really going to use Bakusaiga? I mean, I don‘t really want to question you about this right now, but I thought…”

“Do not worry yourself,” he cut in, understanding her valid concern. “Whether or not I unleash it’s full power, the blade itself is still lethal.”

She nodded mutely, pulling her arrow more tightly against the bow.

Just then, something darted in from the tree line, its long, dark body moving swiftly across the ground. ‘So fast!’ the miko thought, unleashing her arrow before got close enough to be seen clearly.

Then, another demon sprung forward, and another, and three more to her left. Her breath catching in her throat, the miko let her arrows fly. ‘This,’ she realized, her brow creasing with consternation, ‘is not good!’

“They will attempt to separate us,” Sesshoumaru spoke from behind her, his calm voice helping to temper her raging heart. “Stay close!”

“Alright.” she said, firing another arrow.

For his part, Sesshoumaru had yet to use his blade. His acidic whip however, was being put to good use, as it was able to move swiftly in almost any direction, keeping the demons from getting too close.

The attack was sparse at first, a few youkai venturing into the clearing and meeting their demise by either sacred arrow or acidic whip. But it wouldn’t remain that way for long, as the demons became more and more persistent. Soon the night sky, already inky in its blackness was blanketed with demons, their screeches and rumbling growls echoing across the plateau.

It was as if hell itself had cracked open, allowing the creatures to pour in from every possible angle. Serpentine bodies, razor sharp teeth, and glowing red eyes circled the clearing, drawing ever closer, pressing in with marked fervor as their desperation spurred them toward the woman. Not even the threat of purification would keep them at bay for much longer.

They would rip her to shreds at the first opportunity Kagome knew, would consume her body with glee in the hopes of expanding their lives through her power. Her arms were growing tired now, but she couldn’t stop, couldn’t drop her guard for even a second, so the miko ignored the pain, swallowed down her trepidation and kept firing. Again and again, her arrows whipped through the air, killing dozens in their wake.

‘This isn’t going to work!’ she thought suddenly, her arms beginning to tremble as she fired another arrow, ‘there’s too many! For each one I destroy, there’s at least ten more to take it’s place!’

Behind her, the daiyoukai was approaching much the same conclusion. Amber eyes narrowed in determination, the inu lord swung a wide arc, the blurred glow of his poisonous whip slashing and destroying, yet scarcely denting the youkai’s incalculable numbers. Limited by his need to remain close to his companion, Sesshoumaru was growing increasingly frustrated as the demons continued to advance.

He would have to do something soon, though what, he’d not yet decided. The demons clearly had no intention of relenting, and because the numbers favored them, it was just a matter of time before they managed to penetrate his and Kagome’s defenses. If the woman was to survive, he would have to get her out of here!

Hissing as it revealed massive deadly fangs, an enormous snake suddenly surged in, so close, that Sesshoumaru could smell its putrid breath. He lunged to his right, aiming to douse the creature with poison, but the bastard was quick, darting back into the throng before the noxious green haze could reach it.  

Growling, Sesshoumaru pivoted again, this time intending to grab the miko and get out of here.

And then he heard her scream.

As if in slow motion, a large, birdlike demon swooped down on her, its deadly talons ripping the bow from her hand. Stubbornly, she tried to hold on, overbalanced and fell, tumbling a short distance away as the momentum continued to pull her.

She skidded to a stop, stunned and defenseless as the youkai pressed in behind her.

Heart racing, Sesshoumaru leapt for her, one desperate, outstretched hand seeking, grasping in the air in its fervor to reach her before the demons did. But she wasn’t reaching back. Instead, she was pointing, a fearful, wide-eyed expression on her face, somewhere behind him.

Her words did not become clear until it was far to late.

“Sesshoumaru! Behind you!!”

The air was suddenly forced from his lungs, his ribs cracking loudly as the massive clawed hand of an oni knocked him off his course. His efforts to regain his bearings were initially fruitless as the force of the blow flipped him over and over, relenting only after having separated him from the woman by several yards.

His boots dug into the earth,  scraping furrows as he skidded to a stop, and lunged forward again. With the oni now blocking his path, he couldn’t even see Kagome anymore, and for the first time since he could remember, panic shot through the very core of him.

Tightening his grip on his blade, Sesshoumaru bared his fangs, leapt into the air, and took the oni’s head with one clean sweep. As the creature crumpled and fell, his view of the miko was cleared, though he didn’t like what he saw. She was completely surrounded now, and the demons were gradually moving in.

She looked so small, yet she scowled with determination, her glowing, outstretched hands promising purification to any who dared to touch her.

Except for the snake that emerged behind her.

She didn’t even see it, and he knew he wouldn’t make it in time.

“Kagome!!”

She looked up at him with wide eyes, while the snake, its massive fangs gleaming behind her unsuspecting back, descended so fast he didn’t even see where it struck. She cried out and dropped to the ground, disappearing from his view once again.

He landed in a crouch, springing forward without a second’s pause, his blade and claws tearing through every demon in his path.

He heard the miko cry out again, but this time the sound was completely different. Neither a shriek nor a growl, the utterance was a mixture of the two; a feral, angry resonance drudged from the very depths of her willful soul.  

There was an explosion of light and power, its intensity nearly faltering his advance as he continued to close the distance between them. He soon found her sitting in a desolate circle on the ground, flecks of glittering ash raining down around her. Unconcerned of the remnants of pure energy still crackling in the air, Sesshoumaru rushed into the devastation, capturing the one who caused it and pressing her small body against his own.

She held on for all she was worth, wrapping her arms around him and muttering something unintelligible into his chest.

Feeling angry and possessive and relieved,  he tightened his grip, baring his fangs to the demons that still surrounded them. They wouldn’t touch her again! They would never touch her again!

In his right hand, Bakusaiga began to glow. It was time to end this!

Feeling the stir of his youki as it rose and flooded into the sword, Kagome gasped, her eyes instantly drawn to the shimmering blade.

“Sesshoumaru, no!”

But he wasn’t listening; had already lifted the sword, his features hard and uncompromising.

‘It’s gonna drain his demonic energy!’

She tried to struggle out of his arms, tried to make him stop, but it was to no avail. Still captured in his embrace, Kagome could do no more than watch as Bakusaiga tore through the air, its unparalleled destructive energy decimating every demon in the entire area. It took but a single strike.

Bellows of pain and anguish rose and fell, their echoing laments fading into the night as all trace of their presence was wiped clean from the mountain.

Exhaling audibly, Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and dropped heavily to a knee, bringing the woman down with him and plunging his blade into the earth.

She pulled back to look at him, her small hands fisted against his armored chest. “I can’t believe you just did that!!” she all but screamed, “You had to realize how much your power would be drained!” she grasped the upper rim of his armor, feebly shaking him when he made no move to respond. “You IDIOT! You big, stupid, stupid jerk! Why would you do that Sesshoumaru?!”

He sat down completely, placing a hand on either side of her waist as he noticed the crimson stain that now colored the right side of her kimono. “You are injured,” he stated simply, not bothering to answer her question.

“Wha-?” she began, following his line of sight.

‘That’s right, the snake must’ve got me.’   

Adrenaline had apparently dulled the pain, because while she felt no signs of discomfort, her kimono was clearly torn, a generous splash of blood surrounding the jagged edges.

Slowly, she pressed the tips of her fingers against the spot, hissing quietly as a sharp pain answered her gentle probing.  

“Oh,” she said looking mildly abashed. “I should… I should go, and take care of this. There um… there aren‘t anymore demons around here, so…” she trailed off, moving to twist away from him, as if trying to hide her weakness from his view.  

“Let me see,” he demanded softly, refusing to let her go.

She was about to argue, but became distracted when a clawed hand slowly reached for the lapel of her kimono. His movements were steady and deliberate, giving her plenty of time to see what he needed to do. He slid the material down over her shoulder, carefully pulling her arm from the sleeve. The stained material fell and pooled around her waist, leaving half her upper body exposed to the cool night air.  

Taking in swift, shallow breaths, Kagome held perfectly still as the daiyoukai tenderly touched the area near her wound, just beneath her breast. As she kneeled in the sparse carpet of grass, she used her companion’s shoulders to brace herself. He leaned forward, and the miko gasped, her heart leaping into her throat as a warm, wet tongue gently laved her skin. Her arms trembling to hold their place, Kagome bit her lip as an intense, unsolicited wave of heat washed over her.  

He was just tending her wound, she reminded herself, there was no need to get all worked up.

“Is it..” she began after a moment, almost panting, “Is it… bad?”

Barely registering the miko’s voice over the sound of her pounding heart, the inu lord pulled away to assess the damage. Instead of the deep puncture wound he would have expected, there was simply a long, shallow gash. It was approximately the length of his thumb.

“Not very,” he said, sounding vaguely distracted. Though it was no longer bleeding, he licked the wound again, recalling the slight tang that had been mingled in her blood. Before he could consider it, the woman shifted, as if preparing to move away, but something in him rebelled, and he splayed a hand against her back to keep her close.   

He closed his eyes, and, not really thinking about his actions, nor the driving force behind them, he pressed his lips to her skin. He wasn’t even near the wound now, yet he held his position, breathing in her sweet, intoxicating scent as her chest rose and fell in time with her heavy breathing.

Finally he began to move up her body; languidly dragging his lips across her ribs, between her breasts, and at last to the crook of her neck.

Her trembling body held firmly in his arms, the priestess made no further move to separate herself from him. He obviously was no longer bothering with the wound, yet he’d made no move to let her go. She didn’t really know what he was doing; what he was thinking, but on this night, alone in the mountains with this stoic demon lord that had somehow claimed a place in her heart, she found herself willing to accept the guilty pleasure of his touch.

She felt his hand slide from her back to her shoulder, the tips of his claws scratching her ever so slightly as his fingers grasped the other side of her kimono, slowly pulling it down. The fingers of his other hand wove into her hair, lightly scraping her scalp as he dragged his tongue from the crook of her neck to the base of her jaw. He nipped  her there and then pressed his lips to her hammering pulse.

He looped a finger beneath the strap of her bra, pulling it down as he planted a trail of moist kisses from her neck to her shoulder. The miko shuddered, her breath escaping in a quavering sigh as she wrapped her arms around him. He’d half expected her to pull away, to ask him to stop, but instead she melted his stony heart by pressing a tender kiss to his cheek.

The demon bit back a growl.

This human, this fragile, delicate, beautiful creature, held so much confidence in him, held him in such high regard, even though she was a priestess, that she would allow him to touch her as he pleased. She trusted him with her safety, trusted him with her life, and now it seemed, she trusted him with her body… perhaps even her heart.

And yet he had betrayed her; kept something important from her, something she might not forgive him for.

His brow crinkling in displeasure, Sesshoumaru reluctantly pushed the miko away, holding her at arm’s length as he courageously captured her gaze.

“Kagome,” he breathed, his voice more gravelly than usual, “There is… something you should know. Something I have neglected to tell you.”

Glossy brown eyes stared up at him, her lips slightly parted. The expression she wore was one of guileless arousal, desperate longing, and strangely, a  sense of understanding.

She shattered his resolve with three simple words.

“It can wait…”

And she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him again as she pressed her soft lips against his.

Though she wasn’t quite sure what had come over her, Kagome held on, valiantly ignoring the niggling fear that she’d been a little too forward, too brazen as Sesshoumaru stiffened in her arms. He soon put her fears to rest, not only responding to the kiss, but conquering it. He threaded his fingers through her hair, pulling her so tightly against him that she could barely breathe. He tasted her lips, massaged them with his tongue and coaxed her to open and join him in this new and heated exchange.

Softly, she moaned into his mouth, heat rushing to her cheeks as their tongues touched and mingled. She lifted a trembling hand to his jaw, managing a swift gasp as he drew her lower lip into his mouth.

The priestess could hardly believe what was happening, that of all the people in the world she would find herself wrapped in Sesshoumaru’s arms, her body scorching as he placed a final, lingering kiss upon her lips.

He rested his forehead against hers as they each struggled to regain their breath.

“We… we should stop,” Kagome said, her right hand moving to the red cords that held his armor in place. As if of their own accord, her fingers tugged at the strings, loosening them before pulling the armor away. “Yes,” Sesshoumaru agreed, his sharp claws cutting away the straps of her bra. “You don’t… even like humans…” she all but whispered, sliding his pelt from his shoulder. “No,” he exhaled heavily, undoing the ties that held her hakama. “I do not.”

“We’re friends,” the priestess sighed, parting the lapels of his kimono. “This will only complicate things.”

“I never said I was your friend.” the demon lord returned, pulling red fabric down her thighs.

“You didn’t have to,” she panted, the cool silk of his obi unraveling in her hands. “You proved it.”  

The daiyoukai didn’t seem to have anything to say to that, opting instead to pull her against him, forcing her to straddle his lap as the hakama was left behind. She gasped at the feel of his bare flesh against her own, trembled as a clawed hand slid up her thigh, and moaned when his warm mouth latched onto her breast.

She arched into him, allowing him his way as he laved and suckled a sensitive peak. Threading her fingers into the silken strands of his silver hair, she pressed a soft kiss to his brow. His hands roamed her body freely, palms sliding over hypersensitive flesh, claws gently trailing down her spine, fingers tracing erratic patterns over her belly.  

Finally, he made his way to her bottom, grasping its softness with splayed hands and pulling her even closer. He abandoned one breast, kissing the other with moist lips as a shuttering sigh was forced from her lips. Grinding his hips against her, the daiyoukai acquainted her with the heavily aroused flesh that still hid beneath his disheveled clothing.

She responded in kind, her hand convulsing at the nape of his neck and capturing a handful of hair. Helplessly, her hips jerked forward, her body instinctively seeking friction, trying to assuage the ravenous hunger that stirred between her thighs.

He could smell her, and the fragrance called to him, coaxed a rumbling growl from his throat, and drove him to heights of desire like nothing he had ever known.

Sliding a hand between their bodies, he finished where she’d started on his obi, casting it away before returning for the ties of his hakama. He undid the silk, exposing his painfully hard flesh to the soft skin of her belly.

‘Oh my!’ Kagome thought, her mouth suddenly very dry. ‘I guess we’re really gonna do this.’ She was nervous, but couldn’t bear the thought of turning back now. They had come this far, and if she could help it, they’d finish what they’d started. Besides, she wanted this. Maybe it was wrong, maybe there were a million and one reasons not to do it, but she wanted it anyway, and she had been denied so much already.

She let her hand slide from his shoulder and down his arm, finally lacing it between them to curl her fingers around the fullness of his manhood. Showing no sign of fear when her tentative exploration was met with a low growl, she instead stroked the taut skin, her thumb sliding over the fleshy head.

Swallowing dryly, the demon lord grasped her wrist and pulled her hand away. He wasn’t sure what he would have done if she’d kept touching him that way, but at the moment, he wasn’t terribly interested in finding out. It was a much worthier endeavor to loop his fingers into either side of Kagome’s panties, slicing the thin material before pulling the scrap of cloth away.

She looked at him with wide eyes, as if she were about to say something, but he never heard it as he stole her lips in another passionate kiss. He took full advantage of her distraction, carefully lifting her and positioning himself at the moist juncture between her thighs. She gasped and tensed, but he did not release her lips as he slowly pushed inside.

Grasping his shoulders, Kagome was torn between the heated desire to push forward and the stinging discomfort that made her want to pull away. He held her in place, firmly but not forcefully, giving her time to adjust to the near painful fullness. Finally managing to pull away from his lips, she panted heavily against his neck. “Give me a minute.” she said, making a concerted effort to relax her muscles around his substantial girth. When she felt him pulse inside her, her hips jerked of their own accord, and she was surprised at the magnificent pleasure that accompanied the pain.

 Slowly, she allowed herself to take him fully, moaning languorously when he rocked his hips against her. Their bodies moved together, an inferno of searing pleasure wrapping itself around them as the outside world ceased to exist. There was nothing but the feel of him deep inside her, her breathless moans panting into his ear, the thread of dull human fingertips through his silken hair, and the press of soft lips against her breasts.

There was no one around for miles, so  the priestess didn’t hold back her cries of pleasure, wasn’t sure she could even if she wanted to. Powerless against the unrelenting pull of ecstasy, she audaciously ground her hips against his, meeting him thrust for delicious thrust.

Beneath her, Sesshoumaru’s movements were growing more and more urgent, feeding her body’s fervent need even as it stirred a ravenous hunger for more. She would have thought it impossible for anything to feel so good, yet each maddening undulation sent her higher and higher into the throes of rapturous bliss.

For the first time in his life, Sesshoumaru was truly alive. Sensation coursing through his veins, he growled low, wrapped an arm around her waist, and surged into her core, causing her to spill his name from her lovely throat. The power he’d come to wield, the influence, the ability to inspire fear with his mere presence, it was nothing compared to this! There wasn’t a word to describe this level of ecstasy, and yet it still wasn’t enough!

Kagome gasped, barely maintaining her hold on him as their positions were suddenly reversed. He pressed her into the softness of his pelt, capturing and devouring her lips as he took full advantage of the more dominant position. She fisted a hand at the base of his scalp, groaning into his mouth as he drove into her with maddening urgency.

She tore away from his lips, gasping desperately as her body thrummed with pleasure, almost frightening in its intensity. Her heart was racing; tension mounting as she soared higher and higher, and she wasn’t sure she could take much more.

The miko began to writhe erratically beneath him, and she didn’t seem to know whether she wanted to push him away, or pull him closer. She suddenly drew a deep breath, arched into him and groaned his name through clenched teeth. Her trembling rapture was contagious, the inner muscles of her sex rippling around him, anchoring his peak to hers, and then plunging them both into blinding ecstasy.

_________________________________________________________ _______________

Morning, Sesshoumaru decided, staring up at the waning moon, was still a few hours away. A gentle breeze came in from the north, and he could hear the water below as it rippled and churned, its rhythmic waves breaking against the coast.

In his arms, Kagome rested quietly, dressed in nothing but his under kimono. She was very tired, he could tell, her slow, even breathing warm against his chest, even through the silk of his outer kimono.  

Her scent was off though, and her pulse seemed to be gradually weakening.  

He looked down at her, not at all pleased with the pallor of her skin. She suddenly stirred, stretching feebly before her eyes fluttered open.

“Hi,” she sighed, a small smile tilting the edge of her lips.

He didn’t respond verbally, opting instead to brush a few stray hairs from her brow. She blinked, her smile growing a little brighter.
“You know,” she said, sounding nonchalant, “this mission didn’t go anywhere near as well as I’d hoped.”

The youkai chuckled wryly. “I am inclined to agree with that assessment.”

Her smile faded. “I don’t feel so well.” she admitted, almost so quietly he didn’t hear.

Convulsively, his arms around her tightened, as if to keep her from slipping from his grasp. He’d suspected as much, but hearing her say it aloud caused an unpleasant lump to form at the base of his throat. The truth was, he didn’t feel so well either. His demonic energy had been depleted substantially when he’d used Bakusaiga, and seemed to be dwindling more and more with each passing moment.

“That snake… he didn’t get me as good as he’d meant to, but I think,” she said, sighing, “I think he managed to poison me.”

His brow furrowed with displeasure, though there wasn’t much he could do to help her. “Are you in pain?”

“No. I’m just… tired. And hot.” She trembled against him, nuzzling his chest as she fisted a hand in his kimono.

Her expression grew somber. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, Sesshoumaru, to either of us, but I don’t think it’s looking too good right now.”

She lifted a hand to gently stroke his face. “But that’s okay I guess. I forgive you, by the way.”

“Forgive me?” the daiyoukai wanted to know, thinking she was referring to her injury.

“Yeah,” she said, closing her eyes, “for what happened to Inuyasha.”

“You… know about that?” he said, and she managed a soft giggle at the puzzlement in his voice. “How?”

“I’ve suspected it for a while now, but I wasn’t sure until you mentioned that you needed to tell me something.” She released his kimono, letting her hand fall to her chest.

“So you knew, and yet you would,” he faltered, noting the faint blush that painted her cheeks. “You would… forgive me so easily? Why?”

She sighed. “I won’t pretend to know what happened between the two of you, but in spite of everything, I don’t think you really meant for him to die. I think you regret it.” The daiyoukai was silent, reflecting on her words. “Besides,” she pressed on, “You tried to bring him back, tried to save him. That’s more than I could have done.” she looked up at him, her expression grim. “Do you have any idea how many times I accepted his firerat haori, and then thought he’d been killed because he didn’t have it? I know it’s not really the same thing, but I’d kinda feel like a hypocrite if I didn’t forgive you.”

“You are a remarkable woman, Kagome.”

“Not really,” she said, smiling wryly, “I’m probably just delirious from snake poison.”

They were silent for a long time before she finally said. “If… if I die, I want you to put my body into the sea. If more demons come up here, I don’t want them to get me. Will you make me that promise?”

Something inside him ached, and he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. At his side, he found the hilt of Tenseiga, his claws brushing its textured surface. He barely repressed a growl, his fingers curling into a tight fist, because he knew, if it came to that, he would not have enough power to wield it. There was truly nothing he could do for her, except…

“I give you my word.”

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This chapter was EXTREMELY difficult to write! Good heavens! Neither the battle scene, nor the citrus scene turned out as fantastic as I’d hoped, but my brain is too fried to keep messing with it. Oh, and as far as the bleak note on which this chapter ended, just hang in there with me, we still have the epilogue to go!

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!