InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Divine Interventions ❯ Games of Domination ( Chapter 19 )

Chapter 19 Games of Domination

 

A/N: Oh wow, life is good/busy, but if anyone is reading this, I could really use some help! 3 things: 1. A major author I wrote about in my thesis has asked me to consider re-writing the chapter on him and submitting it as a journal article. (I won't go into why he read my thesis), but I don't think I can say no to this, not after he went to all the trouble to read it and send me back several pages of corrections! Please understand if updates take longer. This said, if anyone is interested in editing chapters for me to correct for spelling, typos, character incongruities, etc., I would love the help of a serious reader/writer! 2. I am also trying to get moving on my commercial paranormal romance. I have a decent mythology/origin worked out, but after re-reading my first three chapters, and discovering they suck, I am trying to start over. I'm still writing this fanfic. primarily for the practice, so critical feedback is appreciated. I'm not begging for flames here (I figure that if you don't like this story, you aren't bothering with it anyway), but if I really do welcome comments on technique, etc. I need to know what works, what doesn't, and, if I'm going to get bad news, I'd rather get it here than from publishers (I know, I know, I've got to get a thick skin about that too—more stories get rejected than accepted, perseverance is the key, etc., etc.) 3. Lastly, my other academic project is off to a slow start, but I'm still exploring issues that my thesis sparked. I'm thinking of a chapter on eroticism, misogyny, and the appeal of domination in romance. A lot has already been written on this subject, but I haven't found much dealing with the subject in anime. If you know of any existing articles or just have any informal thoughts on the subject, I'd love to hear your opinions on this. Thanks! -J

_________________________________________________________________ __

Oh, can't you see,

You belong to me,

How my poor heart aches,

With every step you take. . . . (Every Breath You Take, Sting)

*********************************

There was a time you let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you? . . .

(Hallelajuh, Rufus Wainwright)

 

************************************************************** *******************

 

Her mind raced as he held her firmly, flying back to Kaede's.

How long ago was it now, two, no-three days ago that he came back into her life? She closed her eyes and prayed for patience.

Thinking that the same two years had passed for him on his side of the well, she told him every shameful fact about the way she left for the chance to make things right again between them. She told him she knew he made a commitment to Kikyo, and that she left in a haze of hurt and anger because she loved him and it hurt too much to see him give his love to someone else, even if it was her previous self. It was humilliating to tell him, certainly, but she had been grateful to finally face her shameful past.

That had been the point of it, to put the past behind her, make her amends. Nestled under his firm, muscular arm, breathing in the wonderful male scent of him, she was getting the panicked feeling that rather than helping her move on, her confession and all that had followed had only brought her full circle, pining for unrequited love.

She'd be damned if she let it happen again. She had a life now, commitments of her own, and was not about to allow herself to act like some over sheltered, naive teenager with her first crush and turn to mush because of a lip lock. No. Whatever his reasons were, she wasn't going to be his plaything, side fling or whatever else he might see her as. She told herself she was a woman now, a first-year medical student, a woman with powers she didn't ask for, but had a responsibility to use nonetheless, and a nice, sensible fiancé waiting for her. Yes, Paul made sense.

Even Michael made more sense. It was true, she had been confused about him from time to time, but he never did this to her, never took advantage of her weak, human emotions. He had told her once, playfully, that he wanted to kiss her. They had been playing chess, and she had him in checkmate, although she suspected he was letting her win.

. . . .“Kay love, you know what I'm thinking now?”

“Hmm?”

“I'm thinking that if losing to you means I get to see you smile like that, I wouldn't mind a lifetime of it.”

“Michael! Quit! Do you ever stop flirting?”

“With you Kay? Never. I would if I could kiss you just once Kay, but that's one thing I'm not allowed. It's a dreadful rule, and whenever I'm with you I feel it most cruelly!”

“Are you telling me it's against some kind of code of conduct for angels to get involved with humans?”

“Romantically involved, yes, and breaking that rule costs eternal existence.”

“Oh, I see. . . . Well, you are and can be my friend Michael, and that's enough.”

“Speak for yourself love. . .”

Inuyasha sensed a change in Kagome as he held her. After the last kiss he felt a very male satisfaction that he had aroused such a strong scent of arousal in her. A few minutes later, she seemed to stiffen and he could tell she was upset, maybe even angry. Now she had gone limp in his arms and seemed distracted. He knew she was thinking, and suspected he knew who she was thinking about. The look in her eyes told him her mind was not in the Feudal Era.

Kagome came back from her daydream and stiffened in Inuyasha's arms. “If Michael has rules, Inuyasha should too,” she thought, with growing anger. “I won't be distracted from what I'm here to do. I'm here on a mission. I'll do my job, and I'll leave. That's it. To hell with these games of his!”

When they landed at Kaede's, Kagome tersely said, “Please let go of me now.” The coolness in her voice was deliberate. His surprising response was just as purposeful.

He spun her around by the waist to face him, jarring her.

“I meant what I said. I'm giving you time to think.” She couldn't fathom his expression, a mixture of angry resolve and something else-desperation? hope? What the hell did he want from her now?

Whatever it was, he wasn't getting it. In fact, she decided it would best if they kept more physical and emotional distance from each other. She didn't want to loose his friendship, but she needed a real chance to re-equilibrate and do her job. That's how she needed to see this, as a job. “I'll think of him as a co-worker. Men and women work and fight together in the armed forces, so why not. He's just a co-worker... A hunky, sexy, hottie co-worker.”

“I'll speak with you later, Inuyasha,” she said, her eyes flashing. She stepped back from him agilely, turning her body so he lost his grasp on her. She heard the sound of his fingernails ripping into her waistband as she broke away, but paid no attention and felt no pain if she was scratched. “Right now I need a bath. I'm going to see if Sango wants to come with me.”

She washed off her arms and face at the river with Inuyasha, but since she didn't take a “swim,” she was coated in a dry, crackling layer of stinking demon-nightcrawler goo.

He said himself he was giving her some time, whatever that meant, and she was damn well taking it to get away from him, right now. He didn't make another attempt to touch her or to follow her, but watched her with his inscrutable eyes. She could feel the heat of his gaze like his hands on her skin as she walked away.

Miroku and Shippo had made it back to camp and greeted her as she walked toward them, Shippo asking if it was alright to hug her now. “Of course Shippo. I'm sorry I was so tired before. I love getting hugs!”

Inuyasha heard her and glared. “Why does she pay so much attention to that clingy brat?”

Deep down, he could admit he cared in his own way for the orphaned kitsune and showed it as best he could. He remained distant, aloof, forbidding and punitive, the very epitome of his own father. He knew the pain Shippo would always carry from the loss of his family. He understood it intimately. He gave him what he thought he needed most. He was tough on him to toughen him up. After all, life wasn't about to get softer.

Miroku and Kagome were talking. They seemed to have reached a new understanding. As long as he didn't try to grope her, they could be cordial, friendly even. Also, he would be permitted to continue living, something the monk valued even more than feeling up a woman.

Sango and Kaede had prepared a meal for the group inside Kaede's hut, and were very happy and relieved to hear Kagome was back and feeling better.

Kaede went back inside and came back with a brown sack. “This belongs to you, child. I have kept it for you these long months, but now would feel greatly relieved if you took it back.”

Kagome took the sack and looked inside. Her old necklace with the vial of shards lay at the bottom of the rough bag. Kagome gave Kaede a serious nod. “Thank you, Kaede for keeping these in your trust and care in my absence.”

She picked up the necklace and dropped it back in the sack. The pulse from the many tiny shards was overwhelming, a drum-beating frantically in her hand and head. The shards were calling to her, wanting her to hold them. She was shocked by the experience and found herself shaking.

“Are you alright Kagome?” Kaede asked, noticing she looked stricken by something.

“Yes,” Kagome nodded. “The way I feel the shards has changed. I noticed it earlier. The connection is stronger, I think. It's very intense. I need some time to get used to it.”

Kaede nodded in understanding and took the sack back. “Take them when you are ready, child.”

Although he made no move to approach her, Inuyasha's ears swiveled up the moment Kaede gave her the shards. He heard and watched her reaction, wondering with concern what it meant. “Is it hard for her to touch them because her miko powers are stronger now, or is it something else?”

Kagome walked over to their small hut, asking Sango to follow her.

Once inside, Kagome asked Sango if she wanted to take a bath with her after dinner.

Sango smiled and eagerly agreed. Although the hot springs were very close, Sango didn't give herself the luxury of spending time there too often. Normally she just washed with some well water or occasionally, by the river. It had been a long time since she had done something fun with Kagome, and, after today, she felt like they had all earned a break.

Kagome smiled warmly. “Great! I want to give you something then before we go.”

Sango looked at her in surprise.

“I'll take it out and show you after dinner. It's part of Miroku's behavior-modification plan. It's called a bathing suit.”

***************************************************************** ****

The group settled round the fire to eat their meal. Kagome made two cups of ramen as a treat for Inuyasha to go with his venison stew. Although she was angry at him and planned on keeping her distance, she couldn't deny herself the pleasure of watching him eat ramen. And, no matter how upset he was with her, he never turned it down when she offered.

She ate her own mango yogurt bar and a small salad of herbs Kaede had prepared for her. They were bitter and naturally spicy, the perfect compliment to her meal. Her friends still shot her glances, disbelieving that she could eat and enjoy such a meal.

She was just finishing her last bite of the bar when her eyes widened in alarm and she made a noise between a gasp and a cough.

Sputtering with a mouthful of chewy bar, tried to speak--

“Mafrodidict!”

Kagome's face had gone pale with panic and her scent had a sharp tang to it that had Inuyasha at her side, his body tense.

“What is it, what's wrong?!”

She coughed again and took another swallow of water before trying to speak.

“Hermaphroditic,” she finally said, calmer this time.

This revelation was greeted by uncomprehending silence. Inuyasha blinked once, but other than that, seemed to be waiting for something.

“Hermaphrodites!” she repeated meaningfully, the desperation beginning to come back into her voice.

“Did a piece of that shit you eat lodge in your brain, cause you're making no sense, wench,” he replied testily.

“The nightcrawler. The demon worm. It could be a hermaphrodite. As long as this one was, it may have been able to, to. . .” she paused, finding to her annoyance that she was actually blushing. “it could have been capable of reproducing all by itself.”

“Lady Kagome, do you mean to say you believe the worm has created offspring without mating?” Miroku asked.

Inuyasha responded with a smirk, “If the thing can do that, we shouldn't have killed it so soon. You could have watched it Miroku and finally find a way to make your dream come true.”

Kagome bit the inside of her lip to prevent herself from laughing at Inuyasha's inappropriate but, she had to admit, funny remark.

“No,” she responded, trying hard to re-gain her composure and ignore Inuyasha. “If it's like a regular worm, it doesn't reproduce asexually, but possesses both male and female reproductive organs. It reproduces by mating with itself.”

“Well hell, Miroku, that's even better!” Inuyasha said, smiling evilly.

“Listen!” Kagome said, a little desperate again. “If it did then by now it could have laid hundreds or even thousands of eggs. We have to get back to that village, we have to tell them to burn everything in that field—“

Sango interrupted “Kagome, they will have already done so. Burning the area and reciting ritual prayer are part of the purification process.”

“It may not be enough. Someone needs to tell them they need to dig up the ground, hoe up the entire layer of topsoil and salt everything, use a lot of salt.”

“For purification?” Sango asked.

Salt was used in ritual purification in many cultures for centuries. Kagome knew this, she used it now herself, but it was not her meaning this time. “No, to kill the eggs.”

“We have to go tell them. If we hurry we can leave—“

“You're not going anywhere wench! You already exhausted yourself today and you need rest. If anyone goes it will be Mir—“

“Me,” Kaede said, surprising everyone. “I will go. I planned on going to see what I could do for the families of the victims tomorrow. I will start now and be there within the night.”

“Kaede, it's too dangerous. I don't want you traveling alone,” Kagome said.

“Nonsense child, I'll be well. I promise you, I haven't lived this long without knowing how to take care of myself. I'll make sure they do as you have instructed, child.”

Kagome still wanted some distance between herself and a certain half dog-demon. “Inuyasha, why don't you go with her?” she said, sweetly.

He had seen that same “I'm-not-trying-to-get-rid-of-you” smile on her face when she bribed Sota to leave a room. He narrowed his eyes. “No, I told you, I'm not leaving you alone again. The hag said it herself, she'll be fine alone.”

“Inuyasha! That's rude and inconsiderate. This needs to be done right away and if you took her, she'd make much better time. You can both be back by morning, so why don't you just go take care of this?”

“I told you, no fuckin' way am I leaving you alone.” “And I'm not letting her pull farther away from me either. I told her I'd give her some time, that should be enough for her. I won't be kept apart from her while I wait.”

Even the thought being physically separated from her now was painful. Denying his urge to mate was not simply a matter of asserting his human thoughts over demon. It was increasingly becoming a struggle for control. He found that he needed to be close to her, almost within the radius an invisible boundary of her scent and aura to feel calm, less ragged. There was no way he could tell her this, not when he had already promised not to pressure her now.

“I could do it, Kagome,” Shippo said.

“Do what, sweetie?” she replied absently, still frustrated by Inuyasha's refusal to cooperate and disappear for a while. “I wish he would just go visit Kikyo. . . Oh, the hell I do. I just don't want to kiss him or fight with him anymore. I DON'T want to kiss him, I really DON'T!”

“I can go with Kaede and protect her,” he said, standing as tall as he could and assuming a protective stance in front of her. Kaede looked over him and locked eyes with Kagome. The two women smiled, both touched.

“I would feel much safer indeed if you were to travel with me, young one,” Kaede said, her voice giving away none of the humor she felt.

“Shippo, I'm proud of you. It shows how grown-up you are to want to do something for someone else and put what needs to be done ahead of what you want for yourself.” As she said this, she shot Inuyasha a glare hot enough to blast through a battleship hull. She hoped it blasted his thick head.

He shrugged and pretended not to notice or care about Kagome's look. “There the damn brat goes again. Little sycophant. He could piss himself and she would think it was wonderful.”

Kaede went to pack a few gifts and some medicines to take to the village and while she was packing, Kagome offered to give Shippo his first guitar lesson.

“Are you going to teach me how to play now?” he asked.

She smiled at him. “I'm going to teach you how to hold a guitar, Shippo. That's the first step.”

Although the guitar was too large for the child, she sat him in his lap and showed him how to hold it, explaining the strings made differently pitched sounds called `notes' and that by applying pressure to different combinations of strings with one hand on the neck, and then brushing the strings across the opening with her other hands, pleasant sounds called `chords' were produced.

She showed him the fingering for four chords, and was surprised by how quickly he was able to imitate her. Pressing his tiny hands on the steel strings seemed to cause him no discomfort.

“I guess fox-demons are born with perfect hearing and ready finger calluouses!” She beamed at him. “Shippo you're a natural! You'll be playing in no time!”

He smiled back happily. “Kagome, would you please play another song for me like you did last night?”

Kagome smiled again and ruffled his fur on his head. “Sure little one!” she said happily.

Kagome was laughing while she sang, appreciating the incongruity of the lyrics and her present setting. “I'm singing with an adorable, magical being in a time and place I shouldn't be in, yet for some reason, here I am. I am really here again. . . .”

She played the simple chords of a song and soon, Shippo was singing the chorus with her, causing her to smile in delight at his perfect, sweet tenor voice.*

“See the pyramids along the Nile,
Watch the sun rise
From the tropic isle,
Just remember darling
All the while,
You belong to me.

See the market place
In old Algiers,
Send me photographs and souvenirs,
Just remember,
When a dream appears,
You belong to me.

And I'll be so alone without you,
Maybe you'll be lonesome too--

Fly the ocean
In a silver plane,
See the jungle
When it's wet with rain,
Just remember, till
You're home again,
You belong to me.

Oh I'll be so alone without you,
Maybe you'll be lonesome too--

Fly the ocean
In a silver plane,
See the jungle
When it's wet with rain,
Just remember, till
You're home again,
You belong to me.”

Although he pretended not to listen, Inuyasha was acutely aware of the song, the closeness shared by the young woman and child snuggled beside her. Truthfully, it wasn't simply jealousy he felt, but something that made him even more uncomfortable, a wave of tenderness for them both and a sadness that made him feel too vulnerable. “Kagome, did you forget me? Who do you belong to?. . . ”

**************************************************************

The night was dark and still, the sounds of the crackling fire and a chorus of cicadas a music all its own. She watched the rest of her friends, still huddled around their bowls of food, and sitting by the fire, talking in low, contented tones.

They spoke again about the earlier battle, and ventured guesses about Naraku's latest plan. So little had happened in the past month, and now, they had killed a demon the likes of which they had never encountered before. There were new whisperings in the village of other demon attacks, too. Miroku brought up the question on everyone's mind:

“I wonder, could it be more than a coincidence that Naraku's making his presence know again now that Lady Kagome is back?”

Inuyasha felt sure he knew the answer and he gave an audible growl as instinctively, a rush of protectiveness and fear for Kagome overrode his other senses and earlier emotions. His human friends looked at him in surprise, but all three seemed to understand what he was feeling. His intentions toward Kagome were clear to everyone it seemed, with the exception of Kagome herself.

A few yards away, Kagome began playing the guitar and singing once again. The song she played and sang this time was Loreena McKennit's “The Mummer's Dance.”

“. . . When owls call the breathless moon

In the blue veil of the night,

The shadows of the trees appear,

Amidst the lantern light.

 

We've been rambling all the night,

And some time of this day,

Now returning back again

We bring a garland gay.

 

Who will go down to those shady groves

And summon the shadows there?

And tie a ribbon on those sheltering arms

In the springtime of the year? . . . “

The group stopped talking to listen. They found themselves enchanted by the melody, the haunting beauty of her voice, the sound of her hand strumming the strings and drumming the rhythm of the song's lyrics on the guitar.

No one was effected as Inuyasha was. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She played with her head bent forward so that her long, black hair surrounded her, falling to her lap. He saw firelight flicker and dance on its strands, framing her face in light. She was singing with her eyes closed and Shippo in her lap. It was the most beautiful and most moving thing he had ever seen. He didn't know he could cry any longer. He hadn't cried since he was a small child, but now, hot tears came to his eyes, tears of pain, tears of joy. What this woman could do to him, make him feel, was beyond reason. Scenes from his childhood, from battles, a precious memory of Kikyo in the moonlight before she died, many memories of a younger Kagome, fresh ones of Kagome from the last few days. It was like his life was held in her voice, unfolding across the strings at the touch of her fingers.

It was more than he could bear. He wanted her to stop and never stop, as his heart rushed in wave after wave of intense sadness, almost unbearable joy.

When she stopped playing, everyone was speechless for a moment. Shippo nuzzled in close to her chest and spoke first. He whispered “Mama, thank you.”

Kagome was startled by this. The child said these words to her so naturally, with unselfconscious ease. Kagome blinked, wide-eyed. She didn't know what to think. Instead, she felt. She felt him against her now, felt the memory of seeing him almost die this afternoon before her anger took over. Her own possessive feelings toward him, her own love, had allowed her to find the energy she needed to get to him. Yes, she realized, this was natural. She hadn't seen him in two years, but not a day had passed when she hadn't thought of him, hadn't smiled thinking about him, worried over how he was and who was caring for him. Being with him again, she realized the truth-she might be a young mother, but she was all he had now. “Your welcome, Shippo,” she cooed down to him softly.

She looked up smiling and was startled to see Inuyasha was towering over them, firelight flickering in his eyes. They seemed larger shinier than usual and almost--wet? She waited anxiously for him to speak. The cicada's call grew louder. He looked strange. Was he angry at her again? What had she done wrong?

Finally, she couldn't take the suspense of watching him watch her.

“Inuyasha?” she asked.

He kept his gaze on her, breathing hard, still feeling the turmoil and heat from the emotions she cut fresh in him with her singing. She looked tranquil, clearly unaware of the pain she had just caused him, both physical and emotional. He addressed her in a tone of cold command, his anger evident although controlled.

“I said I would give you some time, woman. I will not wait too long for you to decide.”

“Inuyasha! Decide what? What are you talking about?!” She was beside herself with confusion and her own irritation with him. What the hell did he mean by this, and why was he acting this way?

He didn't answer her, but turned abruptly and took off in the air, heading for the dark cover of the forest.

Kagome looked across at her friends, speechless. They all stared back, witnesses to the strange scene that had just played out between Inuyasha and herself.

“Does anybody have a clue what the hell his problem is?” she asked flushing angrily.

All three adults averted their eyes and an awkward silence enveloped her, broken only by Shippo.

“The big dummy likes you. He's such a rude jerk he just doesn't know how to say it.”

Kagome patted him on the head and laughed dryly. “Well, I don't know about that Shippo. He didn't act like he likes me very much at all, but I'm not going to worry about it now, I'm going to get ready for a bath.”

Kaede came over and took Shippo by the hand, ready to head out on their walk to the neighboring village. After saying her goodbyes and making Shippo promise to be careful, not cause mischief, and protect Kaede, Kagome went into the hut to change clothes. After exchanging meaningful glances with Miroku, Sango followed her inside.

“Um Kagome,” Sango said tentatively, “Are you okay?”

Kagome nodded. “I don't know about the rest of it, but Shippo's right about one thing, Inuyasha can be a rude jerk.”

Sango smiled and looked quizzically at her friend, “So you really don't know what he was talking about earlier?”

Kagome shook her head. “Sango, I don't have a clue. I haven't had a clue since we've been back. He's been acting strange, stranger than I remember him and even more tense than he did when he was with me in my time. I know something's up with him, but he won't talk to me. He expects me to be some kind of a hanyou mind-reader and I'm not.”

“Shall we talk about it now?” Sango asked, giving Kagome a sympathetic look.

“No. I don't want to talk or think about Inuyasha right now. I want to talk about you and Miroku if you're ready.'

Sango blushed slightly and looked away, but nodded yes.

“Good. I'm going to explain a little bit about modern psychology in my time and a little something we call `response conditioning.' . . . “

After almost an hour of talking, giggling, screaming, and whispering, the two women emerged from the hut, ready to walk to the hot-springs. Kagome came out first, carrying her beach bag and two towels. Sango held back trying to hide behind her, a furious blush creeping across her face.

“Come on Sango! It's now or never. Do you want to let him get away with being a letch forever?”

“No,” she replied resolutely, “but-“

“No buts. Walk.”

Sango gave a little smile realizing that Kagome was very good at this. She realized after their talk that despite her apparent blindness where Inuyasha was concerned, her friend was actually much more worldly in her knowledge of male behavior than Sango dreamed. In human male behavior Kagome was a confident expert. She was Sango's tutor in this arena, and it was amazing to think the girl who was younger than her only four weeks ago was, by almost every measure, now older. She knew Kagome was promised to a man in her time, Inuyasha had told them that her first day back. Listening to her, she sounded already like an experienced wife, not a maiden. Sango had the strongest urge to ask her friend if she had personal knowledge in these areas, but decided it was best not to pry.

“Besides,” she thought. “If Kagome had been with a man like that, Inuyasha would know and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be quiet about it either.”

As the women stepped out of the hut into the chilly night, more than one pair of male eyes observed them.

Miroku floated over, his eyes like saucers, his mouth open in a stupefied grin.

Kagome moved to the side to expose her friend to his leering eyes. “Just remember what we've practiced,” she whispered to Sango.

Sango wanted nothing more than to back out, but now it was too late. She stood beside Kagome, dressed in only a tiny, black string bikini and a garment she called a “cover-up.” The women's cover-ups extended down to their mid thighs and were sheer, billowy, long-sleeve shirts with no buttons and absolutely no `covering' ability.

“WHAT, may I ask in the name of all the gods of pleasure, are you ladies wearing?” He asked smiling.

“Miroku, women who wish to bath in public places wear these in my time. They're called bathing suits. These garments allow the skin maximum contact with water and sunshine while providing discreet covering.”

There was nothing discreet about the scanty covering. In fact, Miroku noticed, his heart racing, the two women in front of him looked decidedly more-naked than if they were naked. He was careful NOT to look in Kagome's direction, in case Inuyasha was about, but Sango was mesmerizing him anyway. The luscious curves of her cleavage, her waist, her hips, her perfect thighs. She was a goddess, a priestess of love, standing before him. More than anything, he wanted to offer himself in worship.

“Sango,” Kagome prodded, “Isn't there something you want to say to Miroku?”

Sango was fighting the competing urges to run, to beat Miroku unconscious to wipe the happy grin from his face, and to throw up.

“Now, Sango?!” Kagome commanded.

“Miroku,” Sango began with her eyes tightly closed and breathing so fast Kagome thought she would hyperventilate-

“Yes beautiful Sango?-“the monk said, unable to contain his excitement.

“Do you like me? Do you like what you see now?” “Oh gods, I can't believe Kagome talked me into saying that!” Presently, she wanted to die.

“More than anything I have seen before, or could ever imagine even in my fertile mind. Sango, I worship you, I adore you!”

He fell to his knees at her feet and Kagome covered her mouth to suppress her giggle. He was so damn smitten with her, this was going to do the poor guy in.

Sango blushed again, but peeked through one her closed eye down at him. He really seemed to mean it.

“Then prove it to me.”

“Sango, at this moment I'm prepared to die before you to prove my feelings!” he said gazing up at the vision of her.

“Hmm. . . . I think Kagome really has hit on something here-if this works then it really is worth it!” she thought.

She smiled down at him and let out a deep breath. “I don't want you to die, Miroku. I just want you to stop looking at and chasing after every woman you see. If you like me, if after almost two years in my company you want a chance to, a chance to. . . “ she stopped, averted her eyes, and tried to bolt.

Kagome caught her firmly by the arm and held her still. “A chance to BE with ME, then I demand you show me respect!” she finished in a breathless rush. Before she lost her nerve, she began again. “You will never grope me again, make lewd comments, or stare at me like a letch. Can you do all that?”

“Sango. You are an amazing woman, and yes, I will prove to you I can be worthy of your affection!”

“Good, because if you can do this and really stick to it, you'll get. . . a reward,” she said.

Kagome couldn't have been prouder at Sango. It wasn't a perfect “dominatrix” delivery, but she at least got to this part.

Now came the clincher--

“A reward?” He asked in shocked confusion? “How do you mean, my Lady Sango?”

“If you can prove yourself to me by sticking to your word for an entire week, then at the end of the week, I'll give you—I'll give you—“she faltered. Kagome kicked her shin. “A kiss.”

Miroku coughed and, for the first time, reddened. “You-you would actually allow me to kiss you?” he said nervously.

“No. I said I would give you a kiss, like this-“She bent toward him, her exposed cleavage positioned right above his face, and kissed him quickly on the forehead.

He gasped and reddened deeply, looking down at the ground. “I-I can't believe that just happened. You kissed me. You really did!”

“Yes. And if you do what I just said, You get one at the end of the week.”

“Every week?”

“Only if you can keep to your promises.”

“Sango, I can assure you, with this kind of motivation I will have no problem whatsoever keeping this most promising of promises, but may I ask if in addition to the uhm, most delightful rewards there is a chance for—“

“Stop right there!” Sango yelled, her eyes narrowing. “You better not say or suggest anything else, you hear me?”

“Yes, yes of course! I'm sorry! My excitement was getting the better of me.”

“Miroku, you better learn how to control your “excitement,” otherwise, no rewards and I might ask Kagome to punish you!”

He looked up at the smiling miko in horror. “Lady Kagome? What? How?! Please, ladies! That won't be necessary!”

Kagome wanted to say something just because he looked so silly, in the dirt on his knees before them, blushing madly and looking scared to death. She knew that if this was going to work, it was Sango's voice he needed to be conditioned to and hers alone, Only Sango held the key to changing Miroku. Kagome couldn't really punish Miroku if he broke his promises, Sango would have to, but since Sango was finally getting into her role, she decided to play along for now. Besides, she liked being the bad cop. She smiled down at him, and it wasn't a nice smile.

“Show me you mean your vow. Don't disappoint me, Miroku,” Sango said, a small smile playing on her lips as she glanced down at him. Now that she saw how well this was working, her confidence was growing with her power.

“Yes,” he nodded, “I mean NO! NO! I won't disappoint you Sango! You are the only woman I care about. I have felt this way for a long time, I just didn't know how to let you know but now I do. I will show you!”

His face was looking at hers, pleading for mercy.

“Miroku-“

“Yes, lovely Sango-“

“Get up now.”

He nodded and slowly rose to his feet, looking down at his hands.

“Kagome and I are going swimming. You won't try to follow us or peek because you have already seen, right?”

He nodded meekly, not even bothering to look up. He was truly amazed. Sango had just changed all the rules, it was her game now. She knew exactly how he felt. How had that happened? His tactics of groping and teasing to hide his feelings were suddenly useless. She had given him only one chance, but was he ready to take it? He didn't have to reflect long. With a woman like Sango, a man got only his one chance. If this was the new game, he would play it. He was determined to do whatever it took to win her heart.

**********************************************************

Inuyasha watched the scene unfold before him with a mixture of anger and amusement. He was in a tree at the edge of the clearing, invisible t the others but able to see and hear everything. He blushed furiously seeing Kagome so exposed. This was more of her than was even visible when she had been singing at the club. This outfit left nothing to the imagination.

“Gods! She looks incredible. Miroku deserves to die for seeing her so. If he had so much as shot a glance in her direction. . . .” He thought about ripping him to shreds but realized the monk had no real blame in this. This was all Kagome's doing.

As he listened and watched, he also understood why the women were doing this. Maybe this would change the letch. No amount of beating had done that. Now that their game with him was over, he watched her almost naked form, her sinuous legs, as she walked. His feelings toward her were already aroused, and, with her scent and taste from their last kiss still fresh on him, his body reacted to those feelings. He tried to shift his robes into a more comfortable position as he watched her with an intensity with which he had never gazed upon a woman before, like a starving animal hunting fleeing prey.

It hit him. His eyes grew round and huge with fury as he sensed what was unmistakable on her, even from this distance. He narrowed his eyes. It was faint, without power or freshness, but it was still there.

In a flash, he jumped down out of the tree, landing on his haunches in front of her, just outside what he now knew was the circle of her protective barrier. His eyes never left her, and they were rapidly darkening in an angry storm, threatening to turn pure-demon red as he growled at her.

She gasped in fright, and Sango startled too.

He stayed low, growling and watching her with frightening intensity.

“I-Inu-yasha? What's wrong with you?”

He didn't answer her, but continued to stare at her, growling louder.

“Inuyasha?” she whispered.

“HOW COULD YOU?!” he yelled.

She was baffled and truly frightened. He had been acting strangely all day, but this was beyond strange. He was going to turn into a full-demon right there in front of her. What was worse, he didn't even seem to notice or care. He wasn't even trying to reach for Tetsusaiga to stop a transformation.

“Inuyasha! Stop! You're scaring me!

“THERE!” he said, pointing at her.

“INUYASHA, Please, what are you-“

Before she could react he grabbed her, was holding her around the waist. She didn't want to hurt him now like she did before, but if he didn't stop this, she didn't know if she could help herself from fearing him.

“THERE!” he hissed through barred teeth, bringing his hand down and pressing firmly at the juncture of her neck and shoulder on her left side. It was all he could do to keep his hand from curling and raking his claws across the spot.

“WHO THE FUCK WAS THERE KAGOME?!” he demanded.

She decided he must be sick. He was sick and this was beyond his control. Some sort of rare demon illness. She tried to calm down, tried to think of a way to reach him.

“ANSWER ME, YOU DAMNED BITCH!” He growled, shaking her.

Sango held her boomerang tensely and Miroku too looked ready to intercede.

“Inuyasha,” she whispered, shaking, “please I really don't know what you're talking about!”

“I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FUCK WHO TRIED TO MARK YOU THERE! WHO THE HELL DID THAT?!”

In horrific humiliation and understanding, Kagome looked at him with an anger she had never felt before. Her blush was furious, a match for her feelings.

She spun out of his grasp, getting scratched in several places in the process, as she jumped out of his reach and slapped him as hard as she could with her left hand. She felt her ring-stone connect with his cheek, and felt her hand sting with the force of the impact. She hoped it hurt him at least as much as it hurt her.

“NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME, YOU GOD-DAMNED HANYOU BASTARD!” she screamed back at him, enraged. Her hair began to billow around her face as an unnatural warm breeze seemed to whirl around her.

“WHAT THE FUCK I DO WITH MY FIANCÉE IS MY OWN GOD-DAMNED BUSINESS, NOT YOURS!” Hot, angry, tears poured down her face. “You leave me the hell alone, Inuyasha,” she said in a low, threatening voice. “I don't want you near me again, understand!”

She left him standing there, stunned, as she picked up her beach bag and ran through the clearing toward the springs.

Everyone stood frozen for a minute. Sango glanced at Inuyasha, meeting his eyes for only an instant before he looked away from her, arms folded tightly across his chest. A trickle of blood trailed down his cheek. With a nod to Miroku, she left on the dark footpath, following Kagome.

 

 

(*Song “You Belong To Me, Jason Wade)