InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Intensity ( Chapter 26 )

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

Chapter 26: Intensity

Holding the gaze of the woman who'd tormented him for far too many nights over the last several years, he stood slowly and began to disrobe, fully intent on joining her in the water.

Forget that it really wasn't a good idea; he knew this one, single act was going to test his legendary control more than anything else ever had.

Because his demon blood was screaming at him to mark her - to take her, now - but he had plans, and taking his woman while rolling around in the dirt wasn't part of them. Not to mention which... the proper place for a Lord to mate his female was within the boundaries of his own lands.

This was neither the time nor the place, simply put.

Still, he would not, could not, deny the appeal in her beautiful eyes, or the blush as she finally lowered her eyes as he began to undo the knots holding his hakama up.

So modest... that is a good thing - when directed at others. I will never tolerate another male seeing what is mine. But when she is with me...

"Why do you blush so, wife?" He cocked a brow at her as she blushed deeper and refused to look up at him. "Do I frighten you?"

"No!" she denied, adamantly, eyes wide as she forced her eyes up to his when he stepped into the water. "It's just... I've never seen a naked male before," she whispered, mortified.

"And that shames you? It should not - this Sesshoumaru is pleased that it is so - that it is only his body that you will see in such a manner."

"But... it's not just seeing, is it? There's the touching, too, and... well, um..."

A low chuckle broke from the demon Lord, and Kagome stared in surprised fascination. It didn't matter how many times he did that - it would always catch her off guard, and mesmerize her. The sound of it was just so beautiful.

Sesshoumaru waded quickly into the deeper end of the water, and before Kagome could so much as squeak, he was standing mere inches from her.

"Do you fear the touching, little miko," he whispered, one clawed finger reaching out and touching her chin, holding her gaze to his for a moment, then trailing slowly down her neck, barely touching her skin as it made its way down towards the waterline.

"You should not fear anything with me. I will never harm you, priestess, there will only ever be pleasure for you in my touch." He watched as her eyelids drooped, and her lips parted just a bit as her breathing deepened.

It pleased him that she responded so to him.

He held out his hand, and seemingly understanding what he wanted, she handed him her washcloth and soap, a deep, cranberry blush painting her flesh at the knowledge that he was going to bathe her.

He smiled faintly as the color washed over her face and down her chest, disappearing into the water where she crouched, trying to hide herself from him.

"You must stand, miko. Do not think to hide from me."

Kagome couldn't decide where to look, swallowing hard, she glanced up from where she was staring into the water.

Oh my god... she thought, eyes widening. He's... beautiful...

Sesshoumaru watched her eyes glaze over with a sense of satisfaction - even through the water he could scent her rising desire, and though it was making things that much more difficult for him, he was beyond pleased.

He knew for a fact that the tiny woman before him had never reacted to his brother in this way - the only times that Inuyasha had seen her in any state of undress, damn him, he thought, she had reacted with outrage - sitting him into oblivion.

Not so with him.

Holding her gaze firmly, he waited patiently for her to stand, and slowly, she did.

It was all he could do to keep himself from pouncing on her perfect flesh.

In all his long life, he'd never had a harder time controlling himself than in that one instant as his gaze landed on her breasts, and his eyes flashed a deeper crimson as every muscle in his body tightened - he visibly fought for control... and Kagome was extremely surprised at his reaction.

She so obviously hadn't expected it from him, as she cocked her head in confusion - she seemed to have no idea of just how appealing she really was - and that fact angered him.

Finally, after several loaded moments of silence as he battled for control, he managed to push back his heated blood, and with a deep sigh, began to wash her, slowly, sensually, rubbing wide circles across her flesh with the cloth. He started with her chest and shoulders, then worked up to her slender neck, his fingers splaying possessively around it as he washed, and one corner of his mouth tilted in pleasure at the feel of the heated blood singing through the arteries...

As he washed her there, her head tilted back, involuntarily baring that flesh to his demon eyes, and he growled low in his chest at the sight.

Submission - from his chosen female.

It was a devastating visual.

Cupping one hand almost absently, he poured water over the soap on her neck, and he bent down, mesmerized, unable to stop himself from taking that flesh into his mouth and suckling her pulse point, running his tongue up and down the sweet arch of her neck and nibbling along the curve of it.

Kagome's reaction was almost blinding in its intensity... literally, as her miko powers suddenly swept up and out, swirling around them both protectively, making his skin tingle warmly.

She cried out, eyes closed and almost unaware of anything but the feel of him touching her, and as her body followed her neck, arcing into his, he dropped the washcloth and soap completely, grabbing her by her upper arms and pulling her hard into his chest.

They both stilled for a moment at the shock of that first full contact, neither of them really prepared for how it would feel. Not even Sesshoumaru. While it was true that he was far from being inexperienced, he had had his fair share of trysts, he also was not overly active in sexual matters. He was far too picky to be so.

But this... this was something that had never happened to him before. Ever.

The moment his skin touched hers fully, lightening traced down his spine, sending every nerve in his body into overload - and from the cry that was released from his intended's lips, he wasn't the only one so affected.

The pleasure was simply immense - irresistible and intoxicating, he knew that he would never tire of her touch, or the feel of her body against his.

He gripped her arms tighter, and nudging her chin down, he took her lips in a dominating and sensual assault, determined to know every inch of her mouth as well as all of her flesh.

Kagome moaned as she felt her body set on fire from his touch, and then cried out, ecstatic as he pulled her tighter against him. It felt so good... she was hard pressed, in her dazed state, to imagine anything else feeling anywhere near this good, and when he took her lips with his, she opened immediately, not even attempting to fight him for dominance of the kiss, wanting nothing more than for him to keep kissing her forever.

She was very surprised when he pulled away, breathing harshly, and stepped back from her, letting go of her arms. Panting, eyes still crimson and heated, he said, "You will finish this bath alone, miko, I cannot stay."

With that, he was out of the water and he and his clothes were gone before she could even blink - it was so fast she didn't even get a glimpse of his pale, perfect flesh.

Confused, dazed, and afraid that she had done something wrong, something to turn him away, she slumped back against the boulders lining the spring, and began to cry.

Going from such intensity, to nothing, in three seconds flat, was just too much for her overloaded nerves.

What did I do wrong?

---wWw---

Inuyasha was fairly pissed when he woke up from his unpleasant thoughts and realized his ass of a brother was gone. It irked him that he'd been so lost in his own mind that someone that angered him so much, and had spent a great deal of his life threatening him, could disappear, and he didn't even notice.

Keh! All this thinking...

"You will not cause my miko any more grief. You had your chance with her, and now, you have lost that chance. Your fate now stands at the other miko's side."

Damn him to hell!

He didn't want to remember the things his brother had said, and yet, he couldn't stop the words from echoing through his mind - and his heart.

"And it is that word 'make', that tells me what you plan, Inuyasha. Are you that much of a fool? You say that this Sesshoumaru has no feelings - that he has no heart... and yet, even I know that you cannot make someone love you. They either do, or they do not. Are you so simple that you do not understand that?"

"Are you truly so honorless that you would attempt to force yourself on her - take away her choice?"

"That is no better than rape - and would make you a creature akin to Naraku."

His shoulders slumped as the words just kept repeating, looping over and over through his mind 'til he was ready to kill something - and he was just about to begin slashing at the trees when a voice from behind him interrupted his rage.

"Is it really that difficult to let her go? Did you truly love her that much, Inuyasha?"

He stiffened at that, but couldn't think of what to say. "I... Kikyou," he spun to face her, but guilt clouded his mind and he couldn't look at her, "I don't... know. I just don't know how I feel, okay?" he growled, anger and frustration seething through him.

Kikyou stared at him for several moments, then sighed, and moving towards a tree with a low fork in it, sat down there, still watching him consideringly.

"It's been, what, almost three years now since she came to this time, and I was revived? And in all that time, you still haven't been able to make up your mind. But that choice is now gone, right? It's been made for you."

She shook her head, noting his stubborn look, then dropped her gaze to the ground. "Her and I... we've spoken, you know. After you left," she glanced at him quickly, then looked away again, "we spent some time together. You really don't have any say in the matter anymore. She loves him."

Inuyasha winced, then snarled lightly when he heard those last words, hurt and resentment surging up inside. He wanted to let go, he really did, but... it just hurt so damn bad!

Clenching his fists hard, he turned his face away from her. "Look, Kikyou, just let me be for a while, okay? I'm... trying to work my way through this - not just for my own sake, but for... yours, too. I just need a little time. Can you do that for me?"

With a resigned shrug, she nodded. "I suppose - it's not like I'm going anywhere, right?" She stood up, and started to walk back towards the village, but stopped, and looking over her shoulder, she said, "You know where to find me when you've decided."

And she walked away without another word.

Keh. She says there's no choice anymore... but that's not exactly true, is it? I still have a choice...

Do I stay with Kikyou - or do I let her go, too?

Because the more I think about this, the more it's beginning to feel like everyone just expects me to choose Kikyou - and yet, I'm starting to think that maybe there's just too much that's passed between us. I don't want to be with Kikyou just because other people think it's my destiny - or because she's a fallback. She deserves better than that... and maybe my heart has just been divided too long to ever be wholly hers...

Whether or not I've already lost Kagome.

Maybe... maybe I need to free them both, and find my own destiny somewhere else.

Inuyasha began to walk, blindly, lost in his thoughts again.

It seemed that he was finally growing up...

And somewhere near, the spirit of a mother smiled.

That's it, my son... open your eyes to the possibilities around you - there is a whole world out there that you have been missing.

Kagome showed you that you are worthy of love...

Now go out and find it.

---wWw---

Sugimi stared at his wife and mate, surprised.

She looked back at him, brow raised.

"What? Did you think me a simple-minded, selfish fool? Even you, my love, just assumed that Inuyasha's happiness was tied to Kikyou." She chuckled. "As did that old meddler Bokuseno. But nobody knows everything, you know. There is a whole world full of females for our son to choose from. Why make him feel as though he has a choice between only two?"

"But... then why did you accost Kagome when she was here with Sesshoumaru?"

Izayoi shook her head at him and sighed. "I am, after all, only human, am I not? I love my son, and was frustrated and upset with the suffering he was going through. But I didn't want to interfere directly... and I took my upset out on the girl - for that, I am sorry. And on you, as well, when we argued. But finally, I could no longer stand it, and I went to him. With my words to him, I got him to start thinking, which is all I wanted."

He laughed, eyes twinkling as he looked at her with pleasure. "You, my wife, still manage to surprise me... even after all these centuries. So offering to still give him the chance with Kagome..."

"Think back, husband - I know you were spying on me and heard - what did I actually say to him?"

He frowned thoughtfully.

"I know. Life is never fair, you know. We don't often get what we want, but what we need - and sometimes what we need is not something we even considered. Just remember that, and think things over. I will speak to you again, Inuyasha. Be well."

"You wanted him to think outside his safety net... that is why you told him that what we need is not necessarily what we thought it would be. I see..."

She bowed towards her husband, smiling softly. "Exactly, my Lord. I was hinting to him to think... differently. And Sesshoumaru's words only opened his mind further to the possibilities. Now, all that is left is for him to stew in his own thoughts for a while... he will come around."

Sugimi smiled back at his wife, a pleased light in his eyes as he looked on her.

Still so beautiful, my princess - time has not changed that.

And very, very, sneaky, as well. I will have to watch you even more closely from now on, my sweet.

He chuckled to himself.

---wWw---

I knew it was not a good idea to bathe with her at this time, and yet, I did it anyway.

She is far too tempting...

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth, and tried once again to put himself into a meditative trance - he had to find a way, and quickly, to bring his blood back down... to grasp control once again.

He felt like a pup at this point, unable to control himself and left at the mercy of the heat in his body - he hadn't had a reaction like this to anything since he was the human equivalent of eight years of age - and he certainly didn't appreciate it now.

Once he was able to fulfill his desire for her, to take her fully and mate her, then a certain loss of control would be acceptable between them in passion, but for now, it was dangerous, and he would have to clamp down on any more trysts of that type.

Until they had cleared his lands, no more naked moments with his miko.

His eyes flashed red as he forced his blood to accept that.

I have never had to fight myself over anything - she has certainly brought turmoil into my life, he winced slightly as he shifted and adjusted himself, not to mention pain.

With a sigh, he closed his eyes, and began breathing deeply, once again attempting to settle his blood and find his center.

Why do I have the feeling that father is sitting somewhere laughing at me?

---wWw---

Kagome finally dragged herself from the hot water and dressed, feeling sluggish and tired. She'd cried herself out, and now didn't know what to think.

She'd gone over what happened in her mind several times, desperately trying to think of what she could have done to chase him away, but couldn't think of anything - leaving her to conclude that he'd just come to his senses and decided that he really didn't want her.

Maybe it had taken that for him to realize that he didn't desire her... the only thing she could come up with is that, once he'd finally seen her body, and really touched it, he'd been repulsed by her human flesh.

She cringed at that thought.

How am I ever supposed to face him again? she thought, tears again welling up in her eyes. Dammit! I thought I'd cried all the tears I could... she looked around, as she wrapped her arms across herself, and, remembering a small clearing nearby covered in soft grasses and threaded here and there with fragrant flowers, she grabbed her things and headed there, unable to stand the thought of being around anyone at this point.

She was so upset at the thought of losing the demon Lord she'd come to love so deeply, that she didn't notice the demonic presence until it was already upon her.

---wWw---

A/N: Ah Ha! Bet I surprised all of you who thought Izayoi was a bad guy! She's not... she's just a mother - and a sneaky wench, kinda like Kagome. And poor Kagome, sitting in a hot springs thinking she did something to turn fluffy off - and in actuality, it's the other way around... couldn't leave it like that, now could I? Noooo, I had to get her out of the water and leave a CLIFFIE! Bad Kanna37... LOL...

Amber