InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Her Protector ❯ A Feast For The Senses! - Part II ( Chapter 12 )

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Inuyasha, it's the sole property of Goddess Romiko Takahashi, and I cannot take credit for her genius.

 

Kagome is a college student unaware of the mortal peril she is in. He's a bitter silver - haired Adonis with a checkered past and a vow to protect humans. So when the two meet, it's a given that fireworks follow…

 

 

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to all my wonderful reviewers! It is due to your encouragement and good wishes that I have managed to finish this chapter in record time - 8 days for almost 10,000 words! Not bad, if I say so myself!

 

Please, please review!

 

 

Chapter 12

A Feast For the Senses!

Part II

 

 

“I present to you…Kouga.”

 

Sango began introducing her friends to the youkai, as his gaze swept across the table. He nodded to everyone as they greeted him. Kagome shivered as his gaze landed on her. “Kagome... Hmm…I believe I have interacted with you?”

 

Kagome snapped her eyes to his face, her colour paling as he looked calmly at her. “Uh…”

 

He grinned mischievously, showing pearly white fangs and deep dimples. “…on the phone?”

 

Kagome gave him a blank look before nodding, grateful that he had not brought up kiss. `Kami! Of all the youkai in the world, I have to go and kiss my best friend's lover. Someone, kill me right now!' She permitted a small smile to show on her face. “Yes, that was me.”

 

His voice took on a husky tone, “I though it was enjoyable. Short, but definitely enjoyable. We must do that again, some time.”

 

Kagome was shocked at his words, instinctively knowing that he was no longer talking about their telephonic conversation. Aware of the curious looks being given to her by her friends, she laughed lightly. “Oh! I am hardly any good at that. I'm sure Sango will keep you occupied enough.”

 

Kouga opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it and simply smirked. Inuyasha, who had been watching the youkai from a little behind Sango, gave a soft growl. He brushed past the youkai and sat down besides Kagome. He looked at her pink cheeks and growled, “Oi, what are you so embarrassed about?”

 

Kagome shook her head slightly, “Don't be ridiculous, Inu.” She carefully avoided the youkai's gaze. “Why would I be embarrassed?”

 

Sango smiled indulgently at the squabbling pair. “Children, let's not give the newcomers a bad impression, okay?” Both subsided at once, and the fighter nudged the hanyou, “And get up, you're sitting in Kouga's chair.”

 

The hanyou gave her a baleful look and moved away, sitting at the foot of the table, in between Kagome and Rin. He rolled his eyes as he settled down, muttering, “As if I want I take the place of that rotten-smelling wolf. Sango's choice seems to have deteriorated considerably to actually have settled for that mangy, flea-bitten cur.”

 

Rin had been quiet this entire time, watching the group dynamics as an observer. She had not liked Kouga at sight, something that disturbed her since she was quite a good judge of character. She had been trying to figure out the reason for her dislike, when Inuyasha came and sat next to her. Her pulse kicked up a bit at his proximity, but it was his muttered words that froze her blood and chilled her to the bone. `WOLF?'

 

She stared at the muttering hanyou in incomprehension, fear radiating from her every pore. `Did he just say wolf? Is Kouga actually a wolf or was it just a reference to his lecherous nature? Please don't let him be a wolf; I will not be able to stand it…Kami! He'll be in my room…Sango had warned me…Please, let him be anything but a wolf. Please! Let Inuyasha be wrong!' She clenched her fists as the words triggered her dark memories. Three wolves. A dark alley. Helplessness. Humiliation. Violation. Pain. Blood. Death. Fear!

 

Inuyasha's nose twitched as he caught the terror laden scent of his nemesis. He looked at Rin, noticing her pale face and her glassy eyes staring in horror at him. He frowned, irritation growing in him. `Why the hell is she so afraid? Is it because I'm sitting next to her? Of course, she's afraid that I'll reveal her secret to Miroku but even then, this is a little excessive…What does she expect me to do, torture her? Or is it the fact that a hanyou is sitting so close to her which is scaring her? Fucking slut!'

 

He leaned towards her, intent of getting her attention, when a smooth voice broke into his thoughts. “Hanyou, I am trying to tolerate your presence here, but it seems that even the humans are uncomfortable with you. Her fear is clearly a result of your company, and I assume you will have enough sense to withdraw yourself, so that we may conduct our dinner in peace.”

 

Inuyasha looked up to see Kouga give him a malicious look. He heard Sango mutter a horrified “Kouga, I warned you!” as he leant back in his chair. He knew that the youkai had spoken the truth but pure stubbornness made him give the other a cheeky grin. “As if I care! Mr. Shit-for-brains, your scent is offensive to me, so why do you not leave? Sango, really, a wimpy wolf? Come on, you could do so much better!”

 

Kouga gave a growl and taunted Inuyasha, “How dare you abuse me, you half-breed dog? Did no one teach you to show respect for your betters?”

 

Anger lanced through the hanyou at his words. He pointedly looked around the table and then gave a sweeping glance across the room. Stopping his examination, he bared his teeth at the youkai and shrugged. “What betters? All I see is four humans and one pathetic, shit-faced weakling!”

 

Kouga snarled and made to stand as Inuyasha calmly stared at him. Sango shot Kagome a desperate look and caught the wolf's arm, giving him a pleading smile. The tense demon huffed for a few seconds, before relaxing and resettling in the chair.

 

At the same time, Kagome kicked Inuyasha in the shins, giving him a heated glare. She whispered, “Inu, really! You're upsetting Sango. This is supposed to be her celebratory dinner. Stop ruining it for her!”

 

In the meanwhile, having been alerted to Rin's distress, Miroku had immediately put a warm hand on her knee. While the hanyou and the youkai bickered, he leaned into the girl and whispered, “Rin, are you okay? Do you want to leave?”

 

He winced as the girl turned her face towards him. The fear, pain and pure hurt on the girl's face was doing strange things to his stomach. He gently cupped her chin with his leather covered hand as he saw her struggle with her emotions.

 

Rin was glad that Miroku had spoken to her. She covered his hand with her pale one, drawing comfort from that simple touch. Tears threatened to spill as she felt him cup her chin, and she blinked them away. `Yes! I want to go home! Please, Miroku, take me away!' Instead of saying what her heart longed for, she shook her head slightly. She knew she had an assignment to do, something her protector was counting on her to complete. Her voice hoarse and very soft, she said, “No…I…I'm okay.”

 

As the other males where being chastised by their respective dates, Miroku hugged the girl. Hot anger poured through the male as he glanced around the room. He glared at the by-now-subdued Inuyasha and then shifted his eyes to the cool demon who was smirking at the hanyou. Miroku's face wore a look of suppressed violence for a second before he controlled his expressions and moved apart with a smile. “That's my brave girl!” Planting a small feathery kiss on her temple, he moved away from her.

 

Rin gave her `boyfriend' a smile. Even though Miroku had touched her, hugged her, kissed her even, she felt safe with him. She knew he was concerned for her and was trying to comfort her in his own way. And even though he must have wondered about her sudden fear, he had not asked her any awkward question. She was grateful for his support and squeezed his arm in genuine affection.

 

The interaction between the two had been noted by the hanyou. Inuyasha shot Rin a cynical look, as confusion grew in him. `I just don't understand this girl. One moment ago she was terrified out of her skin and then suddenly she's beaming at Miroku… And their relationship is just so weird. She's cheating on him and he knows it! He's cheating on her and flirting with everything female that walks on two legs, and she doesn't mind it! And even then, they clearly have some affection for each other…'

 

Having calmed her demon down, Sango leaned against Kouga and gave him an affectionate nip on his ear. The action attracted the attention of the other two males, and they shared a quiet glance. Both Inuyasha and Miroku wondered what the fighter saw in the demon. Granted he had Cerulean blue eyes, deep dimples, and wavy long brown hair pulled into a stylish high ponytail. And that he had a touch of that bad-boy look about him and a lean, muscular body. But, both could recognize the sleaziness lurking behind his good looks and wondered why Sango could not.

 

Just then, a fast-paced song began to blare from the speakers on the dance-floor. Kouga grinned at Sango, and immediately pulled her up, dancing with her in between the tables. Kagome was surprised at the fact that Sango made no protest at the move. She could see that despite her obvious discomfort at dancing, Sango was making an effort to oblige the demon. The revelation was somewhat of a shock to her, as she had never seen Sango make so much of an effort to please someone. `Sango must really like that creep to try to please him. And I…Kami, forgive me!'

 

Sango was dancing with her eyes closed. She hated dancing and knew that she was looking foolish. And so, not wanting to see the amusement in her friend's eyes, she had closed hers. Given a chance, she would have not danced, but Kouga had not given her one. He had simply pulled her along with him, and she had not wanted to deny him his happiness. She knew Kouga was a good dancer, and that fact only underlined her own failings in that department. As she was twirled, dipped and ground against, she could feel the demon getting irritated with her two left feet. He held her against himself and whispered in her ear, “Sango, this is not kata practice! You have to feel the music. Make yourself follow the rhythm. Do not make me look like a fool by dancing like a mannequin!”

 

Sango gulped and tried to follow his lead, but knew that she was failing in her efforts. Within a few seconds, a disgusted Kouga led her back to their table. She knew she had made a fool of herself and had ended up angering her lover with her poor performance. So she was surprised when her friends applauded their performance with gusto. Sango blushed as Kouga, ever the performer, gave a deep theatrical bow. He then turned towards her, his mood restored by the appreciation, and gave her a passionate kiss.

 

As soon as they had settled in their chairs, a bleached blond waitress in a tight fitting uniform came to their table to take their order. Inuyasha's roving eye automatically checked the girl out, acknowledging her to be good looking and shapely. The hanyou, however, was surprised when he noticed that the subdued Miroku had neither tried to ogle her nor flirt with her. He did notice Kouga trying to peer down the front of her shirt and was shocked. `His girlfriend is sitting right next to him and he's behaving like that? I wonder what he'd do if she wasn't here.'

 

Having ordered their dishes, Kagome and Rin struck up a conversation about dresses, each complimenting the other on their stylish attire. Inuyasha gave the seated Rin a cursory glance and knew that the girl was looking pretty, but could not figure out what the fuss was about. Half the terms the girls were using were alien to the hanyou, and he rolled his eyes at the girls' antics. He thought dourly, `What with the technical terms and their serious demeanor, one would think that they're discussing some scientific discovery instead of dresses.' He paid little attention to the two till he heard Kouga ask Rin to get up and model her dress for him. Irritation sprouted in the hanyou and he growled. `What the fuck is he trying to pull? No way am I going to let the letch look at her.' Then as the thought registered, he grew agitated. `Why the hell should I care? If she wants to strut her stuff for the bastard, she can go ahead. It's between Miroku, Kouga and her. None of my business!'

 

However, when Sango put an end to Kouga's foolish request with a light “Don't tease her!” Inuyasha felt relieved. He told himself that it was only because Rin was Miroku's girl that he had not wanted Kouga clapping his leering eyes on her.

 

Shortly, the two girls rose from their seats and slipped off to the Ladies Room. Left alone, Inuyasha and Miroku began discussing campus gossip, as Sango and Kouga whispered sweet nothings in each other's ears. Within moments, the two girls re-appeared. Inuyasha got up to let Kagome pass and felt his heart give a kick. He saw Rin walking towards him in her shiny golden dress and felt a strange envy towards Miroku.

 

The girl was wearing a flowing dress with an asymmetrical hem. The sleeveless dress was cinched against her body with five wide golden satin bands, the first just below her bust and the last at her hips. The bands emphasized the girl's bust and slender form. The skirt of the dress was in the form of two layers of flowing fabric, with the sides and back being longer than the front. The skirt showcased Rin's long, sexy legs and with each step, swayed mesmerizing.

 

Inuyasha found himself salivating at the approaching vision. Immediately, he sat down, trying to ignore the urge to stare at Rin. He was unsure of the code of conduct in such a situation and did not want to offend Miroku. `Is it okay to lust after your friend's morally loose girlfriend? Especially when they are fully cognizant and accepting of the fact that their partner is cheating on them? Damn! Of course it is wrong…right?'

 

Rin sat down next to her pensive quarry. She had gone to the bathroom with Kagome in order to build up her courage to face Inuyasha. In the bathroom stall, she had let out a silent scream, purging herself of all her anxiety and fear, and had emerged as a more confident person. But now that she was in the perfect frame of mind, she was finding it difficult to talk to Inuyasha. She glanced at the others, who were listening to an amusing anecdote Miroku was relating, and then shifted her entire focus to the hanyou. “Thank you!”

 

Inuyasha lifted his head to look at her with inscrutable golden eyes. “Excuse me?”

 

Rin sighed softly, as she realized that he was deliberately trying to make things difficult for her. `Why does he hate me so much?' She tried again. “I was thanking you…for not saying anything to anyone about Poison.” She knew it was a lame, and at the same time, extremely dangerous topic, but knew that it was guaranteed to get a response from the hanyou.

 

Inuyasha gave her a bored look. “Oh, that! No need to thank me. I just didn't want Miroku to know. It would have hurt him.” He noticed her lick her lips and wanted to laugh. `She's clearly nervous, and still is trying to talk to me. What game is she playing now…Seduce the hanyou?'

 

Rin nodded. “I too do not want someone who cares for me to be hurt.” She hesitated and then gave him a smile. “I hope this will remain a secret between us?”

 

Inuyasha shrugged. “Fine!” He paused and then leaned close to her. “You know, you still haven't told me the truth about that day. Since, we are being so friendly and all, how about telling me what that was all about?”

 

“A mistake!” Rin wanted to bite her tongue, as she saw Inuyasha give a very Sesshomaru-like eyebrow raise. “I mean, I made a mistake in kissing you. It should never have happened…”

 

`So you think kissing the hanyou was a mistake? Let me assure you, my dear, it was a mistake. And running away was an even bigger one.' He took hold of her hand and rubbed a thumb languidly around her palm, noticing her agitation at his action. “Tell me, Rin, are you afraid of me?”

 

The gentle massage was making Rin very uncomfortable. It was very silly of her, but her palm had begun to burn with his attention. Every stroke of his thumb on her sensitive skin was creating ripples of a strange feeling in her body. Her pulse leapt around the place at his gentle touch, and grew more haywire at his lazy smile. Rin wanted to pull her hand away but knew that any such action would jeopardize her mission. `Fear you? Not really. I do fear the feelings you induce in me. And, I definitely fear the reactions of my body to you... Perhaps I should fear you!' She said softly, “Perhaps, a little.”

 

She knew, immediately, that she had given the wrong answer. Inuyasha glared at her and dropped her hand. Flexing his claws, he growled out, “Then stay the fuck away from me!” Rin wondered whether she should ask him why he was so angry but one look at his cold face had her courage leaking out of her. She decided to try again after the hanyou had time to cool down.

 

Inuyasha was distressed at Rin's answer. He knew what the girl had meant and that had refreshed the wounds of his past. He hated people fearing him. He could deal with disgust, anger, hate, cruelty…anything. Anything, except for fear. Whenever people said that they were afraid of him, his heart would break. He felt as if they were saying that he was an unreliable and dangerous wild animal that needed to be feared. And hearing Rin, a girl he had kissed and treated rather civilly, say that she feared him was a big blow to him. But he would suffer in silence, just like he had suffered for so long. `I care two hoots for that bitch or for what she thinks! And to think, I actually was feeling protective of her! Damn, Inuyasha! When will you ever learn?'

 

The cheerful conversation on the other side of the table culminated in hoots and whoops of laughter. The laughter was punctuated with the appearance of their waitress. The woman came laden with platters of their food and placed it on their table with a cheerful “Douzo Meshiagare!” Everyone dug into the delicious food and for the duration of the meal the only sound in the room was the clatter of chopsticks and china.

 

After the food had been polished off and the plates had been cleared away, Kagome and Sango began a conversation about college, trying to get the others to join in.

 

Kouga sat back in his chair and watched the others conversing, sated with the evenings activities. He had never wanted to host this dinner but was glad that he had done it, seeing the rich dividend the dinner had garnered. Not only had he been the center of attention, something that the demon thrived on, but he had also managed to arrange a date with the buxom waitress. He estimated that she would hold his interest for two to three days, at the least. Further, besides the foolish Sango, who he was rapidly tiring off, he now had access to two other beautiful females - Rin and Kagome. His mind carefully evaluated the two and their uniqueness factor. While Rin seemed like a wishy-washy girl, she had remained unaffected by his charm and had not even looked at him directly. That made her quite unique in his vain mind and he decided that she would be good for a week. However, it was Kagome, the girl who had brazenly kissed him, who had captured his imagination. `Kagome! Now she is someone who will keep me on my toes. She is a mystery package…one that I will love unwrapping. And I bet she has so many layers, that she will keep me busy for quite some time.' Deciding that he had been out of the spotlight for long enough, Kouga rejoined the conversation.

 

Inuyasha gave the wolf a disgusted look for his boisterous words and withdrew himself from the conversation. Though he had calmed down, somewhat, after Rin's declaration, he was still irritated with the demon. Kouga felt wrong to him on many levels, and as Sango's friend, he wanted to warn the girl about his suspicions. But he had not done it. Being a romantic at heart, Inuyasha respected Sango's affection for the demon. He knew that he could not break her heart only because his intuition had gone into red-alert mode. If he had had any proof, it would have been a different matter, but at this juncture he felt it was better to keep a close eye on the demon.

 

His attention was diverted by Kouga's smooth voice, “…and so, I've decided to join Tokyo University. I'll be joining from Monday.”

 

As Sango beamed, Inuyasha muttered, “Oh joy!”

 

Kouga, hearing the soft words, gave him a hard look that Inuyasha ignored. The wolf continued, “Now, I will be able to train Sango for `Annihilation' without missing out on my track and field training.”

 

A proud Sango, smiled, “I never told you guys. Besides being a good fighter, Kouga's also a star on the track. He's broken several youkai speed records, already. It was because of his track training that he was unable to attend that `Martial Arts' class.”

 

Miroku who had been staring at Kouga gave him a bland smile. “That speed must really help you while fighting.”

 

Kouga answered cockily, “Yes. And I'm sure you know all about it.”

 

When Miroku didn't reply, the wolf's grin grew wider. Sango gave him a confused look, “Why would Miroku know about it? He's not a fighter.”

Kouga almost collapsed with laughter. He had been suspecting that Miroku had kept his role in the exhibition match a secret from his friends, and Sango's words only confirmed his suspicions. The demon had recognized his ex-opponent by his scent but Miroku had not shown a flicker of recognition for the demon who had beaten him black and blue. `So he's hiding it from them? Oh, what fun! This will be so good…'

 

Kouga continued to smile at Miroku. Small beads of perspiration lined the human's forehead, as he gazed back calmly. `Kuso! He has recognized me. I had hoped he would forget but…Seems like my cover is about to be blown.' He waited for the inevitable but surprisingly Kouga did not reveal the truth.

 

Inuyasha decided to indirectly answer Sango's question and turn the attention away from the implications in the demon's words. “Are you suggesting that Miro's a coward who will run away from a fight?”

 

Miroku and Kouga both turned towards the hanyou. Kouga's eyes twinkled with suppressed laughter, while Miroku's eyes flashed with annoyance. `Inu, you ass, thanks for nothing!'

 

Sango gave a small laugh. “Kouga, you have hit the nail on the head. Miroku wouldn't risk fighting for anything. He would rather run away than risk getting hurt. Heaven forbid a blemish mars his charming face. How will he attract all the pretty little bimbos? Right, Kagome?”

 

A sober Kagome smiled. “Sango, I think you're being very mean to Miroku. I know he's not a fighter but he's not that bad!”

 

“Oh, come one. Remember the time when we were attacked by that pack of rabid dogs? It had been Inuyasha who fought those dogs, with me guarding his back. Miroku had stayed in the background, trembling at each growl. Anyone else would have at least attempted to help his friend. In the end, even you chipped in by throwing stones at the attackers, but Miroku? His only contribution had been to cower and cry!”

 

“That's enough!” Sango blinked at Inuyasha's rough tone. “I did not mind him not helping me then. In fact it was better that he had not. I was able to stop them without fear for his safety.”

 

Miroku shot his friend a grateful look, and the hanyou nodded. Kouga gave a strangled laugh. “Takes a dog to stop a dog!”

 

Both males locked their eyes on the wolf, undisguised hatred swimming in their eyes. Kouga ignored their looks, a plan hatching in his mind. He smiled at Sango. “Sango, why don't you describe to them how a real youkai fights…tell them about the exhibition match.”

 

Sango immediately grew pink-cheeked as she gazed dreamily into space. Her voice was reverent as she spoke, “It was beautiful. Kouga was simply magical and the way he fought that monk was awe-inspiring.” Drawing a deep breath, she launched into a highly descriptive and breathless account of the match.

 

Miroku mentally rolled his eyes at Sango's embellishments and exaggerations. He was getting a little pissed at the female fighter's narration that was making him look like a fool. He desperately wanted her to say something positive about his fighting skills but his hopes were dashed as she sang Kouga's praises unabashedly. He shook his head slightly, and felt someone staring at him. Looking up, he noticed Kouga giving him a triumphant smirk. Everyone else was too engrossed in Sango's words to notice the demon give him a wink and a double middle-finger salute.

 

The truth dawned on Miroku, and anger grew in him. `That bastard set me up. He knew that Sango would build him up in her narration and in the process would downplay my fighting prowess. He wanted to degrade me! And the fuck is actually succeeding!'

 

Miroku's eyes narrowed. He was annoyed by the superior look on the pompous youkai's face and yearned to beat him up. He longed to tell everyone the truth about the match but knew that he could never reveal the entire truth. `I can't tell them anything! But I wish I could. I only have to open my mouth and the smile would be off his face faster than grease of a hot stove.'

 

Now that he knew that the wolf was trying to humiliate him, Miroku was more sensitive to the way Sango was recounting details of the exhibition match. He knew that he deserved praise and accolades for the match as he had fought with a skill that far surpassed that of the wolf. But Sango made no favorable mention of the 'monk', instead calling him several derogatory terms.

 

And throughout it all, Kouga wore a smug expression, his eyes dancing at the human male's increasing fury. Several times, he would interrupt Sango to point out another flaw in the monk's technique and when Sango concurred with him, he would glance at Miroku to see the effect of the words on the human. Miroku was sick of it but knew he could not open his mouth.

 

Inuyasha felt bad for Miroku. He could scent his friend's anger and several times came on the verge of revealing his friend's secret. It was only the fact that Miroku for some reason did not want people to know that he could fight, was what stayed his tongue. Even then, he tried to defend his friend, arguing with Sango and Kouga about the fight and the techniques used, prompting Sango to sneer. "Inu, you weren't even there. If you had seen the sniveling fool trying to fight a master like Kouga, you would have laughed. He was pathetic."

 

The words acted like the straw that broke the camel's back, in this case the lock on Miroku's lips. Miroku smiled serenely, "Pathetic, sniveling fool? Interesting how deluded you are!"

 

Sango immediately bristled up like an angry cat. "Deluded? Care to explain your comment, hentai?"

 

Miroku spared a glance at Kouga whose smile had dimmed a bit. He then glanced around the table, noticing the others shift their focus to him. He grinned and leaned back in his chair, draping an arm around the back of Rin's chair. "Sure, Sango! Have you ever known me to turn down the request of a pretty girl?"

 

Sango snorted and shook her head in disgust. Inu made a dismayed sound, but Miroku did not glance at his friend. He had discarded his anger, since it would not be of any use to him, and had instead totally immersed himself in his new role. Miroku smiled gently and everyone relaxed, missing the cutting sharpness of his gaze. "Kouga, I was there..."

 

The wolf raised his eyebrows, surprised at the words, and then reverted to his good humor as the human continued. "...I saw you fight the monk. It was an exhibition match, was it not?"

 

Kouga nodded. Miroku looked at Rin and twirled a lock of her hair around his finger, his entire interest seemingly concentrated on the simple act. "Aren't exhibition matches generally staged?"

 

The soft words left Sango gasping, as Kouga grew flint-eyed. Inuyasha smirked at the wolf and both Kagome and Rin gaped at Miroku.

 

The angry wolf bared his teeth, his claws digging into the armrests. "You dare sully my name with your preposterous lies? How presumptuous of you to think that anyone will believe your lies...the words of a degenerate debauch! Ha!"

 

Sango had a hand over her mouth, staring at Kouga with shock. She whispered "Kouga..."

 

He gave her a cool look, "Oh, come on Sango! Don't tell me you believe this fool. The match was not staged!"

 

Before Sango could reply, Miroku broke in with a bored, "So you say.”

He pinned the fighter with his piercing gaze, “Sango, I may be a degenerate, I may be a debauch, but I am not a liar...you know that!" He ignored the twinge of his conscience as he recalled the numerous lies he had spoken. As far as his friends knew, he wasn't a liar and that was what was important. "And, besides, I have my...sources, who told me that the entire match was staged. Kouga and the monk had practiced their moves beforehand and the result was already pre-determined. I was told that the monk actually had to work hard to fake his defeat convincingly, since the wolf was such a bad fighter."

 

Kouga snarled viciously, a hint of desperation showing in his eyes. “Lies! All lies! You cannot dare think - “

 

Miroku interrupted his tirade. He smiled at Sango and then began toying with his chopsticks. “My beautiful fighter, you should ask yourself if such a creature is worth being your sensei for `Annihilation'. You should have a teacher who has fought youkai and can teach you to exploit their weaknesses, someone who can teach you to defeat them. Not a teacher who can only teach you youkai techniques that require a degree of speed, agility and strength that a human can never possess. Besides, would it not be better if you find a teacher who can win matches on the basis of his abilities rather than on the basis of his money?”

 

A purple faced Kouga stood up, his claws extended and his eyes bleeding red. “Come on, then. I'll fight you! Right now! And then we'll see…”

 

Miroku leapt up, as Inuyasha rose to his feet, an expression of pure bliss on his face. A loud bang had them all starting. Sango stood with a tray in her hands. She banged the tray against the table again and snapped at the demon. “Kouga, sit down, you know Miroku can't fight! You too, Inuyasha! Sit down! I refuse to let you brawl like drunken hooligans! Sit!”

 

All three males looked at the irate female and quickly settled into their chairs, exchanging heated glares. Sango rubbed her head and then glanced at Kagome and Rin. She slowly sat down and thought for a moment. “Miroku, I know you are not a liar but perhaps your source was mistaken. I watched the match. There was no way that that had been staged. The monk was beaten to within an inch of his life. There was nothing fake about it.”

 

Inuyasha gave a soft growl at the words. Miroku opened his mouth, glanced at the angry Inuyasha, then at the determined Sango and lastly, the fearful Kouga. He knew that if he pushed the matter, someone's blood would flow. And, also that beating the demon would only result in the demon divulging his secret. `I will have to concede this round. Fucking wolf has no idea how lucky he is!' He shrugged and mumbled, “Could be, though I'm very sure that my source wasn't lying!” The concession stung him, even as he said the words and he avoided meeting Inuyasha's incredulous eyes. Frustrated and angry, he clenched his fists under the table, his face smoother than a calm pond.

 

The tension leaked out of the fighter and she drew a deep breath. “I will not believe it, till I get some solid proof. And I cannot afford to doubt him. Kouga is the only one who can train me for the match. Where will I get another sensei so soon?”

 

Inuyasha looked at Miroku but the human remained silent. Kouga snorted, “Another sensei? Perhaps Miroku wants you to get a human baiter as a sensei?” He shot Miroku an evil glare that the human met with a calm look.

 

“A human baiter?” Sango sounded shocked. “They are lower than the lowest. Why would I take a person like that as my sensei? No, Kouga, I have decided that you are my best bet. Please, I want you to continue as my teacher.”

 

Kouga smirked and nodded. “Sure! It is always sensible to learn from the best. I'd love to coach you, Sango. You have nothing to worry about!”

 

Miroku only watched in silence at the demon kissed the fighter. He felt Rin touch his arm in silent support, and unclenched his fists. Giving her a grateful nod, he smiled broadly, the picture of a carefree man. His smile dispelled some of the tension on the table. “Ah, whether the information was correct or not, the method of getting all the gossip was rather enjoyable. My sources at `Knockout', each sexier than the other, tried their best to outdo the other, both in terms of news and performance. Why, one of them…”

 

Kagome tuned the man's anecdote out. She had heard enough of Miroku's lewd tales to know the ribaldry that would follow. His stories were so outrageous that she sometimes wondered whether the man was telling the truth or was a gifted yarn spinner.

 

The evening had been strange. She had enjoyed the dinner and the conversation with her friends. But, Kouga's appearance had sent a frisson of apprehension down her spine. She was worried that the revelation of her impulsive kiss would both hurt Sango and create a rift in their friendship. She was jolted out of her thoughts as she realized that a warm hand was stroking her satin covered thigh, and had been stroking it for some time. Shocked, she immediately pushed Kouga's hand off her limb, growing more agitated when she realized that the demon had been caressing her while engaged in a lip lock with Sango.

 

She shuddered and swallowed, the bile rising to her throat at the despicable demon's act. She took a deep breath, causing Inuyasha to give her a strange look. She shook her head at his obvious concern, pretending to hear Miroku's story. Satisfied with her actions, Inuyasha turned back to the anecdote.

 

Her mind was racing in disgust, as she thought about her next step. `What do I do now? Do I ignore him or expose him? Should I tell Sango, or Inuyasha, or…no one? Kami! Guide me, please!'

 

She shifted uneasily on the chair, trying to find an answer to the knotty problem. She felt Kouga lean towards her, and stiffened at his nearness. As she struggled not to move away from him, the wolf whispered, “Kagome! Why do you push me away? You know you want me.”

 

Keeping a stoic face, to avoid alerting her friends to her distress, the girl whispered back ferociously, “Keep dreaming, Kouga! I have no interest in you, what so ever!”

 

The demon smiled, “So, you go around kissing strange men just for fun? Interesting... And what makes it even more fascinating is that you smelled so strongly of a female Inu at that time. You have been rather naughty, haven't you? Do you know how hot it was, to get kissed by a passionate, virgin lesbian? I had to go fuck Sango to sate myself, and even then I kept imagining you…”

 

Kagome was staring at him in incomprehension. The demon's words were revolting, and she couldn't help but gasp at his crudeness. `He was imagining me while he was with Sango? Oh, Kami, that is so gross!' She felt sick at the thought.

 

“Don't play coy with me, Kagome. I promise you a ride that will make you forget all about your desire for women. Once you've driven my stick, you'll never want for another.” His hand snaked on to her thigh again, and she batted it away in irritation. “Why so shy? After all, you were the one who threw herself at me.”

 

Struggling to keep her voice low and her scent fairly calm, she answered the wolf, “I said I am not interested in you, Kouga! And if you persist in your actions, I will tell Sango about your making a move on me…”

 

The wolf laughed softly, “She won't believe you. And besides, if you tell her anything, I may also, accidentally, reveal to all your friends your true sexual preference and your fascination for kissing strange men.”

 

Kagome blanched, as the demon laughed and leaned back in his chair. The girl was chilled, and felt sick to her stomach. She wondered at the mess she found herself in. `All these years, I have been a good little girl. No problems, no anxieties and definitely no fear of anyone or anything. And now, in a span of a few days, the world is crashing around my shoulders. Unwanted advances, lesbian lovers, blackmail, extraordinary senses, hentai thoughts…What the fuck is the Kami punishing me for?'

 

Suddenly, the room spun. She looked at her friends, laughing and chatting with each other. And almost felt as if they were in a whole different dimension. A sharp pain erupted in her head and she felt as if her body was floating, weightless and formless. She held on to the table to steady herself and the spinning room. `Kami!'

 

The room stopped spinning but began burning up, and Kagome tugged at her figure-hugging dress, feeling sweat bead all over her body. She was bewildered to see that everyone else was unaffected by the severe heat. Her face flushed, and a feeling of constriction and claustrophobia arose in her. Her breathing sped up and she staggered to her feet.

 

Her friends looked at her in concern, as Inuyasha got up and draped an arm around her. “Kagome, are you okay? Your face is all red.”

 

Kagome had a death grip on the table as she willed herself on keeping her balance. “I'm not feeling well. I…I'm going back to the dorm.”

 

Inuyasha glanced at Miroku, concern for him shining bright in his molten eyes. He hesitated and then nodded, “Okay, let's go!”

 

Kagome gasped out, “No, you stay here. I'll go on my own.”

 

“Rubbish! I can't let you go on your own.” Though his voice was strong, Kagome could detect the slight doubt in his voice. She knew that he was worried about Miroku and did not trust the demon enough to leave him alone with the human. So she gave him a bright smile. “Inuyasha, I would feel terrible if I spoilt the party for you. I'll manage, I promise!”

 

She could see he was torn as to what he should do. Sango helped him make up his mind, by offering the limo to her. Satisfied that Kagome had transportation to take her back to the dorm, he agreed to stay behind.

 

Kagome walked serenely out of the room. But, barely had the elevator doors closed on her than she began to hyperventilate. Her eyes rolled in her head as she fought the wave of dizziness. She needed air, and she needed it right now!

 

xxXxxXxxXxx

 

Sesshomaru downed another drink with a grimace. Though numerous empty glasses were heaped around him on the bar table, he was absolutely clear-headed. He might as well have drunk water, for the alcohol had been wasted on him.

 

Though many females, both demon and human, had sought to catch his eye, his orbs had been solely focused on his beautiful principal. He had had a few minutes of anxiety when Kagome had disappeared from sight, but she had returned to her seat soon enough and the demon had calmed down.

 

Suddenly, he tensed as the fine fur on the back of his neck stood up. He felt evil in the air, the sort that he had felt at Poison. His gaze sharpened, and he scanned the teeming dance floor and bar to try and spot the source of the unholy aura. He saw a young dancing girl suddenly fall down in a faint. He could tell by her fluctuating aura that the girl was a low-level miko. Fortunately, the girl's friends had gathered around her and managed to resuscitate her. Sesshomaru rose, moved to one of the girls and gave her Kaede's number. He instructed her to call the number, and describe the events at the bar, so that the afflicted girl could be treated. As the wide-eyed girl nodded, he walked away, satisfied at a job well handled.

 

He returned to his chair and dropped in it. Immediately his eyes moved towards the heavens, seeking his principal. He felt mild trepidation, when he realized that the girl was missing from her seat. His eyes scoured the VIP level and the public level to catch sight of the wine clad girl, but to his chagrin, she was untraceable.

 

And then, the elevator doors dinged open across the hall, and Kagome tottered out. Her light pink aura had almost totally disappeared, and the little that was visible was lined with a virulent green edge. He saw her claw at her dress and then clap a hand to her head. His eyes narrowed and his body tensed, he followed her path with his eyes, scanning the crowds with his senses to make sure that no threat lurked there. Even though he had not moved an inch, his entire focus was on his principal.

 

He could almost taste her desperation to reach the door, and so was surprised to see her stop in the middle of the floor.

 

xxXxx

 

Kagome again pulled at her dress, attempting to loosen the sudden tightness. She was breathing with difficulty, since it seemed as if a large stone had landed on her chest. Her skin stung, unpleasantly, and disoriented she stopped in the middle of the dance floor to find her way out.

 

It was then, that she felt a strange prickling sweep through her body. The familiar sensation distracted Kagome from her pain, and eased it a bit. Her eyes widened as she identified the feeling. She had experienced this prickling before, and instinctively knew what it meant. Despite her body telling her that she needed to get out of the building, she tried to locate the source of the oddly pleasant sensation. The source - Moonie. `I know he is here! I don't know how I know it, but I am sure of it! I must find him!'

 

She turned around till she felt the feeling increase, and staggered in that direction. With every step, her tingling grew as she neared the source and moved away from the door. Her body was under duress, her breath labored, but all Kagome could think of, was getting to him.

 

Sesshomaru watched in silence as the girl started walking in his direction. He observed her bedraggled state, and once again, admired the girl's determination. He was wondering where she was headed, when he realized that she was moving straight towards him, as unerringly as an arrow moving towards its target.

 

Only a few feet separated them as she stumbled to a halt. He saw her chest rise with exertion, sweat rolling down her face. Her body trembled violently and she once again pulled at her dress. Her gaze was on his face, and a ghost of a smile flitted across her lips, before disappearing. Through trembling lips, she whispered, “I knew it was you!”

 

Sesshomaru sat frozen in his chair, uncharacteristically uncertain of himself. Her words had surprised him, and as she closed the distance between them, he quickly considered his options. Alarm-bells were ringing in his head, as he noticed her diminished aura had a greenish tinge, and was rapidly becoming greener. He knew that she was in danger, but did not know how to help her. `Even if I take her out of this place, how do I help her? I'll never get her to Kaede's place in time. What do I do?' Suddenly, he felt his youki rise to the surface. He watched in wonder, as his youki swirled around him and then stretched out to wrap itself around the girl. As he watched, his youki covered her entire aura and slowly, began leaching the green poison off it.

 

Kagome gasped, as she felt an icy wind cover her. She felt as if she were standing in the middle of a snow-storm dressed in a bikini. Her skin froze and grew clammy. She took in a lungful of the cold air and instantly felt the congestion in her chest melt away. The pain was receding and she gave a thankful smile as all her mysterious symptoms disappeared. `There must be an A.C. vent near here. The chill has at least driven away that awful pain…But I don't understand it. I'm too young to be getting hot flushes!'

 

An awe-struck Sesshomaru stared at the girl. He watched in amazement as his youki not only protected her aura from the evil, but also detoxified her poisoned life-force. Not only was he stunned that his youki had acted on its own, without his direction, but also that the miko's aura had not lashed out at his youki and had actually accepted the demon energy. `It is unheard of, and never before experienced. Youki and ki are like the opposite sides of the same coin, and cancel each other out. Then, how is it that the two energies are coexisting peacefully? What is this new mystery?'

 

Feeling much better, Kagome took a deep breath, and looked up to see the demon staring at her. Her breath caught, as his intense gaze made her fidget. “Uh…h…hi!”

 

The demon inclined his head in acknowledgement, his stoic face not betraying his confusion. He saw the girl, still wrapped in his youki, give him an uncertain smile. As her aura increased to return to its normal state, her confidence also increased dramatically. She moved closer to him and leaned against the bar table. “We keep running into each other in bars. Awful coincidence, isn't it?”

 

Kagome was feeling like a million dollars. Not only had all her aches, dizzy spells and hot flushes disappeared, but she felt rejuvenated and content. And, the sudden reversal in her state of health, had her delirious with happiness. So, she was a little disconcerted when the demon gave her a piercing look, obviously not sharing her good mood.

 

With his youki covering Kagome like a second skin, Sesshomaru could feel every tremor, every ripple, and every contour of every inch of the girl's skin. Add to that sensual feeling her delectable and disheveled appearance, her soothing jasmine scent and her husky voice, and the sensory overload was driving him nuts. His irritation grew and he raised a cold eyebrow, “Coincidence? You followed me here! Why are you here, human? I thought that after last time you had made it clear that you wanted nothing to do with me.” Even as the demon said the words, he wondered whether he was referring to the Poison incident or to the time when Kagome had repudiated his avatar. `Doesn't matter, in both cases she made it clear that she was not interested in me. Ha! How many people get to be rejected in both genders?'

 

Kagome opened her mouth to answer the demon, but then promptly closed it. `Why did I come looking for him? I should have gone back to the dorm. Then, why am I standing here? It doesn't make any sense.' Noticing the demon was still staring at her, she scrambled to create a convincing excuse. “I…uh…wanted to…um…apologize. Yes, that's right, I wanted to apologize. That day I abused you. And even though it were your words that angered me, I…I felt guilty about shouting at you and…so, here I am. I'm sorry.”

 

He looked at her skeptically, and then nodded. “Fine! So, are you through apologizing?” As she nodded, he said archly, “Then you're done here, right?”

 

Kagome felt confused. She didn't want to leave, but had no real reason to stay with the cold demon. She nodded slowly but did not move away from the bar table. For some reason, she just wanted to be near him and so remained in her position. She saw the demon raise his eyebrow again, pure arrogance pouring out from his every pore. His deep voice, articulated clearly, “Are you sure that that was the only reason for seeking me out?”

 

Sesshomaru wanted Kagome to leave at once. His body was reacting to her nearness, and the fact that his youki was draped all over her. He knew that his normally immense control was somewhat weak where the girl was concerned. And so feared, that he might do something that he would later regret. Having spent time with the girl, and having seen her flush one-time-too-many at the remotest sexual situation, he knew she would flee his advances. So he deliberately set out to tease her. “Hmm, human?”

 

Kagome gave him an uncertain smile. “First, my name is Kagome, not human. And, secondly, what other reason could I have, youkai?”

 

Mentally grinning at her doubtful tone, Sesshomaru gave her a cool look. “Hmm, let's see…” His glance sharpened, making his eyes look like roaring furnaces, and his voice softened, “Perhaps you wanted to continue from where we left off last time.” He smothered a smile at her panicked expression, and mentally counted off the seconds before she fled. To his surprise, the girl continued standing there, her head bowed and her body tense.

 

Shocked at the demon's soft words, Kagome looked at him in incomprehension. And then, unable to meet his heated gaze, she ducked her head. `To continue from where we left off…Is that why I sought him out? No, can't be, can it?'

 

`Why not?'

 

`Because… I don't need more complications in my life. My life is already going to hell and I don't need a one-night stand to make things worse for me! I don't even know this demon. How can I accept his proposition?'

 

`Because you clearly desire him!'

 

`…'

 

`Sango advised you to get a guy. Better Moonie than Kouga! Plus, perhaps when the bastard wolf realizes that you are no longer a virgin, he would back off. Further, this will dispel all your doubts about your feeling no desire for males. And don't lie to yourself Kagome, you know you want to do this!'

 

`I do…But so much can go wrong.'

 

`One night of pleasure and sex with no strings attached. What you felt with Kikyou, will pale in comparison with what he can make you feel.'

 

`Kami!'

 

A bewildered, and rather aroused Sesshomaru, growled in irritation. `Why hasn't she left? Bitch, why do you fight me in everything? Just go…' As if in response to his mental command, Kagome raised her head to look him in the eye, a small smile on her face.

 

“Your place or mine?”

 

 

TBC…

 

 

 

A/N: And so, the story gets some more new knots. I know I will have a bitch of a time successfully un-knotting them, but then, that is half the fun!

 

The next chapter will tentatively be out by the last week of March, and if I get enough reviews to fuel my typing, might even come out by the 12th. ::fingers crossed::

 

Like it, hate it or just indifferent to it, please review!

 

Big thanks to all those who reviewed this story and more than made up for the hate-mail that I have received. It is because of you guys that I am inspired to write better and faster.

 

 

MM

 

Kawaii Bell: Thanks. Oh, yeah, Kagome is in trouble. Very deep trouble! Mwaaaahhhaahaahaha! ::evil laughter::

 

Tueske: Thank you for both your reviews! Damn, but your second review made my head swell! Like I said, this is nothing, there are still more linkages to be created and unearthed. And do not worry. I have no intention of abandoning this fic as it is very close to my heart!

 

Sovereignty: My Numero Uno reviewer! Thank you, Claire. And I'm glad that you though it perfect. You know how crazy it had made me and now I can take a sigh of relief. ::smiles::

 

Sesshomaru_Kagome_lover_4ever: ::Gets buried under the avalanche of love:: Thank you, Angel. Don't worry, I won't let you die! ::laughs::

 

 

FF

 

Sakky-chan: Thank you for including this story in your C2. I'm glad that you like the story enough to add it to that list. And don't worry, there is a lot more fuel to fire up this crazy story! ::laughs::

 

iheartanime43: Thank you! I'm glad that you like this story. And yes, I will try to keep it as funny as possible though some angst is mandatory.

 

FluffyandKagome: And we have a winner. Seems like you were the only one who correctly guessed Kouga's identity, Nita, congratulations! Your prize is in the mail! ::laughs:: Enjoy, and thanks!

 

Serenity Digo18: As you can see that was always the plan! So, Sessy will have fun both as a male and female! Lucky dog! And, please don't cry! Next chapter will be up soon.

 

Sesshoumaru's-secret-mate: Thank you for your wonderful review and your kind offer, Megan. Sessy's crescent moon resulted in him being called Moonie. And, isn't this Moonie better than HP's Moonie? ::laughs:: Though I realize that both are HP's Moonies. ::grins::

 

Flawless-Miko: Thanks. And, yeah, it'll get worse before it gets better! Seems like all that love did its trick and got this chapter out in 8 friggin' days!