InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome! Where are you?! ❯ anything part 1 ( Chapter 31 )

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

Ch 31 Anything? Part 1

Author's note: Kagome will be talking about her relationships while she is with Sesshomaru.

So . . remember that Kagome is a very positive person, so when she thinks about or talks about
her relationships it will be in a positive way.

(Yes, in the middle of a fight, she's capable of saying/doing anything, but outside of a fight . . .
she's going to be a positive person.)

If I write her as a person that dwells upon the negative side of her relationships, she would be out
of character . . . So, if you expect a lot of Inu-yasha bashing . . . you will be disappointed.

Total mistake on my part: I forgot to include something about Kagome's camera in ch 30. Yes, it
and the film were basically found, intact. Although one of her rolls was exposed. She did take a
couple of pics of the elves.

(And a couple of items Sesshomaru had on him was given back to him. His seal of office and a
couple of other things. Yes, I should go into detail, but that's what the story is for . . . )

Be warned . . . I will be taking some very different approaches to Kagome and Sesshomaru . . . I
will upset some of the traditional views . . . So, I might lose some readers, but . .

If you have not read my story, "Spring Fertility Festival" be warned it will be discussed in this
chapter and. You need to be familiar with it. You are warned . . . Sexual situations and ideas will
be discussed freely . . . you are warned.

Corrected by Diane/ponygirl. Thank you.

________________________________

Sesshomaru watched the battle below begin to develop. 'No imagination on either side.' he
judged the generalship he saw below. 'Morgoth is just doing waves of attacks, no subtlety at all.
And Eonwe . . . ' he shook his head. 'Nothing special.'

He looked away and began to scan the area. More Winged Dragons were rising from the
mountains in the east. Giant Eagles were flying to meet them. 'I do not want to stay in this area,
too much of a chance of getting involved in a battle. And I have no desire to get into another
battle on this world.' he thought. 'Hmmm . . the southwest seems the clearest.'

"Sesshomaru, let's get out of here, Ok?" Kagome asked, still wrapped in his arms and tail. "And
could you fly lower? I'm getting cold up here"

"You wanted to fly this high." he replied, but as he began to fly to the southwest he started to fly lower.

"I wanted to see what was happening."

"A war is happening."

"Yes." A pause . . . "I know that you would hate it, so I'm not going to ask you to return to the elves."

"Good. Don't ask."

"I'd like to help them." she whispered.

"Don't interfere in other peoples battles."

"I just hate knowing that people are hurting and I can't help them." she whispered.

"That will cause you to get hurt, as well."

"If I can help people, it's worth it."

A pause . . they silently and mutually decided to drop this argument, for now. After what had
happened on this world, neither of them really feels the need to press the issue.

But . . . Kagome pledged to herself, to come back to it . . sooner or later . . .

She shivered. "It's still cold, how do you stay warm? All you are wearing is the same type of silky
white robe that I've got on."

"More training is in order, I see."

"Sesshomaru?"

"You need more training. The body's physical discomforts can and will be ignored, given the
proper training."

"I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"Nobody does."

They stopped descending and began to climb again. "It begins now, Higurashi Kagome. Learn to
ignore your body's discomfort."

"You beast . . . " she growled at him.

"Of course. I've never claimed to be otherwise."

A pause . . . They continued to fly to the southwest . .

"Sesshomaru."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry about the gas. I should have asked you to fly us away, instead of letting those orcs get
close." Kagome bowed her head. "That was my mistake, how do I make it up to you?"

A pause . .

"Sesshomaru?"

"When someone makes a mistake like that with me, I take their head as punishment."
Sesshomaru said in a low voice. Kagome looked up, startled, then her eyes narrowed. "You're
having fun with me!"

Sesshomaru's mouth twitched, "However, in this case, I don't think that would be appropriate."

"Hrmph . . "

"You know me well, Higurashi Kagome." A pause, his eyebrows rise. "Better than anyone that
I've ever met."

"I was in your soul and we've been through life and death together, if that doesn't force us to
know each other, I don't know what will."

"True."

A pause . .

"Higurashi Kagome."

"Yes."

"You have my apology for bringing you to this world. The cube, obviously, tricked me. That is a
mistake I will not make again."

"Lord Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, thank you for your apology. I do not blame you
for what happened on this world. I, probably, would have made the same decision that you had."

Sesshomaru nodded, accepting her thanks, but as his eyes flicked down her body, he could see
that she was turning blue and her nipples were tenting the thin white robe she's wearing.

He thought, 'She has not said a word about being cold since . . . good. She is learning. It's nice
that the cold up here is also making it difficult for my body to react . . . holding her like this.
Before, when I had on my armor and robes, they concealed my body's reaction to her, but
wearing just this thin robe, she would have felt me, if I was warm enough to react.'

His eyes flicked to the horizon. "There is a hill below with a pond and waterfall. I do not see
anything else large around, so it should be safe."
1. Kagome's eyes followed his, and they narrowed. "I can't see a thing, so I'll take your word for
it. Let's land and rest."

"And talk."

A pause.

"Yes . . . and talk."

Later . .

It's a beautiful setting. The morning sun is shining . . . although, dark clouds from the volcanoes
are darkening the sky from the east to the west as the day progresses . . .

They landed next to a tree-covered hill, with a waterfall that dropped from the top of it. The
waterfall flowed into a small pond, surrounded by trees and moss-covered stones. The trees are
lush, leafy green, and full of life. From the pond a babbling brook runs through a flower-covered
meadow. A light breeze stirs the flowers, bringing their scents to both Kagome and Sesshomaru.
The flowers look like pink roses (no thorns), but their scent is similar to daisies. A scene that,
especially to Kagome, screamed romance . . .

They landed . . .

As soon as they let go of each other, Kagome began to rub her arms, trying to get warm. "The
training is over, right?"

"Yes." Sesshomaru reached out and began to rub her shoulders.

She stopped rubbing her arms and looked into his eyes . .

She closed her eyes, a tear forming at the corner . . . she whispered, "Please . . . no."

A pause.

"Since you requested it." He released her shoulders. "It is rare that this Sesshomaru ever tries to
help anyone." he said in an obviously hurt tone. "I know . . . and I thank you for that . . but . . "
she opened her eyes and stared into his again. "Would it have stopped at just a rub?" A pause . . .

"Sesshomaru?"

"No. It would not have."

A pause . . . they stare into each other's eyes.

Kagome, in a whisper that his ears just barely heard, said, "I'm not ready for that."

Sesshomaru, whispering just as quietly, "Never or not now?"

"I do not know . . . "

A pause.

Sesshomaru reached out and began to rub her shoulders, again.

"Sess . . . "

"It will just be a rub, Kagome." he whispered, interrupting her.

She closed her eyes and melted into him.

He hugged her. "You are ice cold you know." His lips moved across her ear. His arms began to
move over her, giving her the warming rub, he promised.

"Only because you flew so high." She turned and began to rub him. "And you're cold, too."

Her arms began to rub him. After a few minutes . . . the rubbing has become more like caressing .
. . Kagome shook her head and suddenly said. "No."

She let go of Sesshomaru and backed away. She looked into his eyes . . . the hunger in them
caused her to shiver . . . He took a deep breath, obviously calming himself. The tented robe
around his midsection dropped. Kagome had noticed it that was what caused her to let go.

Kagome took a deep breath. She smiled, "You know, Sesshomaru? If my friend Yuka were here,
she'd be grabbing her inhaler about now." She pointed to the flowers, "Her allergies can be
something fierce at times."

'Changing the subject are we . . . ' Sesshomaru mused. 'Still . . . do I take her? She wants it. I can
smell her natural perfume. No. She has shown tremendous restraint, especially for a human. I
will have better self-control than she does.'
"She sneezes a lot then."

"We have medicines that control it."

"Interesting."

"Oh, Sesshomaru, I've been meaning to ask . . How do you stay clean? I don't mean your clothes,
I mean your hair, face and such."

"My hair, like all in my family, naturally cleans itself. My face and such . . . I can move very fast,
Higurashi Kagome."

Kagome's face twisted and she sighed, "And I was hoping you had some spell to make things easier."

"No."

A pause.

"Although, now that we are alone." Sesshomaru turned away from Kagome and began to
concentrate on the spirit within the robe.

Kagome could feel his power expand . . . and the plain white robe . . . changed . . .

Sesshomaru's robe changed into his standard armor and robe.

"How? Why?" Kagome sputtered. "Why didn't you do that earlier?"

"And reveal something that those elves did not know? Never." Sesshomaru replied, his eyebrows
rose, "Why didn't you show them how to talk to spirits?"

Kagome's mouth hung open. "Well. Umm . . . "

Kagome paused, she was obviously trying to come up with some excuse. "Ok. I was so busy
doing other things that I never had time."

"Even when you were 'resting' on the cot?"

Kagome gritted her teeth, "I was mad at you."

"My swords are important to me, and I will not be stolen from."

With anger in her voice, Kagome replied, "I know that, Lord Sesshomaru, sir. But did you have
to be obnoxious about it? If you had been more polite and didn't put Eonwe on the spot so soon,
maybe I would have had a better chance with him."

"That, human woman, is stupid. Being polite to him would never have worked." Sesshomaru
could see that Kagome was about to interrupt, so he held out his hand in a stop motion. "And if it
could have worked it would have taken weeks or months, not hours."

Kagome twisted her mouth wanting to tell Sesshomaru that he's wrong, but she bowed her head
finally, silently acknowledging that he was probably correct. "However, Sesshomaru, this is the
same type of argument I've had with Inu-yasha far too many times."

Growl from Sesshomaru.

"I like politeness. And I expect it from my companions."

Sesshomaru looked into her eyes. 'I've heard enough about the fights between her and my brother
. . . do I want the same type of relationship with her? No. So . . . that means . . . '

Sesshomaru sighed. "Very well, Higurashi Kagome, I will try. But, this Sesshomaru will warn
you, the habits of a lifetime are hard to break." Kagome reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru. All I will ask is that you try."

"Aren't you going to communicate with the spirit of your robes and change it into something you
are more comfortable in?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Huh, yes. Although, how did you change . . . " Kagome waved at his armor and clothes.

Sesshomaru sighed, "Touch it."

Kagome touched the armor . . .

It bent at her touch. The armor was just the robe, reshaped and colored into something that
looked like his armor.

"The spirit in the clothes can change the appearance, even the color, of the clothes, woman." He
sighed, "Unfortunately it is still just cloth, not armor."

"Oh"

A pause, "So . . . I can change them into something like my school clothes . . . " she whispered.

"Close, it is only one piece of cloth, not two like your clothes were, but it can look like
something similar."

Kagome smiled at Sesshomaru, standing up on her tippy toes and gave him a sisterly peck on the
cheek. "Thank you."

She blushed, turned around and ignoring him, began to communicate with the spirit inside the
Elvin cloth.

After a few minutes . . . (Unlike Sesshomaru who ordered the spirit to change shape, Kagome
talked to the spirit and as a favor from one friend to another, it changed its shape.)

Kagome stood in her school uniform, except it had a strip of cloth running down her back
connecting the shirt and skirt into one piece.

Sesshomaru's eyes traveled down her, admiring her.

She blushed.

"Kagome?" he asked in a soft voice.

"Yes." Kagome answered, also in a soft voice.

"Why did you say no?" Sesshomaru asked, "Did you not promise that we would . . . " his voice
trailed off as he brushed against his groin.

"I did." Kagome swallowed. "But, I promised your lustful side that we would just have sex, and if
you only want to roll around in those flowers." She pointed to the flower-covered meadow. "I'll
gladly do it."

Her voice cracked, "But. You did not want my body. I could see in your eyes that you wanted my
heart, Sesshomaru, and that I cannot give you." She smiled, "If all you want is my body,
Sesshomaru, please, let's do it."

She thought, 'So, as soon as that promise is fulfilled, I can, in good conscious, ignore any further
sexual . . . things, that might happen and treat him like I treat Miroku, by slapping him. Until that
promise is fulfilled, I can't. And knowing that I'm going to have sex with Sesshomaru has to be
one of the reasons that I'm starting to feel . . . things . . . for him. Once we have sex, hopefully
those feelings will go away.'

A pause . .

"My brother."
Kagome lowered her head, and whispered, "Yes."

Sesshomaru asked "What, exactly, is your relationship to my brother?"

Kagome took a deep breath. 'The question I was hoping he'd never ask me . . . ' she thought.

"What, exactly, do you feel for me?" she asked in return, trying anything to deflect his interest.

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow, "Do you wish to enter into a childish contest?"
Kagome grimaced. "No."

A pause.

"You will answer that after I finish?"

"Of course."

He nodded.

"Do you mind if I sit? That isn't going to be an easy question to answer." Kagome asked.

"Of course."

Kagome found a clear area amongst the flowers and sat down.

Sesshomaru decided to pace around her. She looked around, trying to find something, anything
that she could use as a distraction

Sesshomaru followed her gaze, and his eyes narrowed. He pulled Tokijin and stabbed it into the
ground. A dome of power formed around the hill and meadow.

"Nothing will interrupt, Higurashi Kagome." He smiled as he thought, 'The extra power on this
world is finally coming in handy. The only creatures powerful enough to break that barrier are
otherwise occupied by the war we just left.'
She sighed and gave a small giggle. "You know, Sesshomaru."

He turned to her and raised his eyebrow in a question. "You know me as well as I know you. I
was just thinking about how often Inu-yasha and I would arrive somewhere like this." She waved
her arms at the romantic scene around them. "And my friends would show up and interrupt us."

She sighed, "The only times I've ever been mad at Sango are at times like that."

Sesshomaru thought, 'Hmmm . . . since Inu-yasha isn't here, they have not been arguing. From
what I know of her personality . . . without the constant fights to get her upset at him, her
thoughts about Inu-yasha will probably dwell on his, very limited at best, good points. Which
will make gaining her love more difficult . . . but . . . any feelings she has toward me can grow
because Inu-yasha isn't here killing them as they start. So . . . even though she'll feel less anger
toward Inu-yasha . . she'll also find it possible to fall in love with me. Hmmm . . . how to use this
insight in winning her love . . . '

"And now . . . you want something to interrupt." he observed.

"Yes." Kagome whispered in a dry voice.

A pause . . .

She swallowed, "You know, the only reason we're having a conversation like this is because
we're alone and we've been living in each others back pocket. Otherwise . . . "

"Yes, if we were back home, nothing like this would have happened. I'm sure my brother would
have interrupted this by now." Sesshomaru agreed.
"But . . this is happening and as we've both acknowledged, something is growing between us."

He paused. "I believe that . . . "

"That you have a right to know . . . "

He nodded.

A pause . .
"Well?" he asked.

"I wish, Sesshomaru, that I had a simple answer to that question. But I don't."

"That, human woman, is not an answer." Sesshomaru asserted. "I did not think I would have to
threaten to use that promise you just made, but I will, if necessary."

Kagome looked at him, startled. "Sesshomaru, sir, I will reply to your question and threatening
me with that promise is a very bad idea." she warned.

Sesshomaru nodded. "I may have misspoke, Lady Higurashi Kagome. You have my apology."

Kagome nodded, accepting it, but the concerned look in her eyes caused Sesshomaru to think,
'She is worried about that promise. She told me that she trusted me not to abuse it . . . and I've
already, perhaps, abused it. Hmmmm . . . I will either have to use it on something trivial soon, or
I will have to make a promise not to use it, in order to regain that trust . . '

She sighed . . . she closed her eyes, and wrapped her arms around her legs, curling up into a tight
upright ball. "My feelings aren't the problem."

Her voice started out strong, but it got weaker as she spoke, "I care for . . . I want to make him
happy . . . I . . . I . . . love him." she whispered from between her knees.

Sesshomaru growled. 'Wrong . . your feelings are the problem. How do I get you to love me?' he thought.

"I just don't know what he feels. This spring . . . we had a . . . we had a talk and he told me that
once Naraku is dead, we'd talk and everything between us would be resolved. And . . . and he.
Well, he didn't really say it, but he heavily hinted that he loved me. He offered to mark me. And
from what I've learned from Sango and other people that means a lot."

"It does." Sesshomaru confirmed. "Wait. He offered to mark you and you declined?"

"Yes."

"Why?"
Kagome opened her eyes, and looked at Sesshomaru. He could now see the tears that he had
smelled before. "Did you hear the last bit with Sauron in his tower?"

"You screamed something about mind rape."

"I've been mind controlled many times, Sesshomaru. I hate it. Marking . . . is a piece of magic
that makes sure I love the person that marked me, right?"

"It's somewhat more complex than that, but close enough."

"In other words, I'm being mind controlled into caring for that person. Oh, I might ask for the
mark out of my personal love . . . but, once it's applied, my feelings no longer matter, that mark
will make sure I love him for the rest of my life."

Sesshomaru frowned, "In most of the romances that I've read or heard, loving a man for the rest
of your life is a very good thing. So why are you against it?"

"It's still controlling my mind. Oh, it's a chain around my feelings that I've applied and it's a nice
golden chain that I'd never want to get rid of, but, that mark would control me."

Sesshomaru looked deep into her eyes. "And you hate that."

She nodded. "My feelings are my own and nobody and nothing will control them."

A pause.

"And, Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands, I expect you to understand, acknowledge and
respect my choice."

Sesshomaru's mouth twitched, "The marking spell can be broken by very strong wills, Miko
Higurashi Kagome. It is my considered and educated opinion that your will would break that
spell. However, I assume . . . that should something happen between us . . . you would never
want me to even offer to mark you?"

"Correct."

"You do know that if both persons mark each other . . . that the love between them will grow."

"If a couple needs, or even wants, magic to help them love each other . . . exactly, how good is
that love?"

A pause . . .

"Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, agrees." he stated in his most regal voice.

His mouth twitched, "Hmmm . . . now that I think about it . . . " He stopped his pacing, bent
down. He reached with his hands to brush the tears off Kagome's cheeks.

"I like a challenge. And you are correct to a degree, having the female of the couple marked does
make the household a quieter place as she loves and obeys her mate. With you unmarked any
relationship between us will require constant attention, since you might stop . . . " Sesshomaru
paused, choosing his words carefully, "caring for me."

"Aren't we being presumptuous?" she stated in a very irritated tone.

"I am not my brother, Higurashi Kagome. You are the first woman, the first person, ever . . . that
has affected my emotions the way you do." He stared into her eyes, "You know that."

Kagome reluctantly nodded.

He continues, "Exactly what our relationship will be . . I don't know. That depends on you. But. .
." Kagome shivered from the emotion she could see in his eyes. "we will have a relationship
when we return home. That I promise."

Kagome swallowed. "Yes. I . . . I think we will too. But . . . " she shook her head. "I don't know, Sesshomaru."

A pause.

"You asked me about Inu-yasha."
Sesshomaru nodded.

"Before this." Kagome waved around. "Before we got lost together my major problem with Inu-
yasha was the fact that he could whisper sweet nothings in Kikyo's ear and then five minutes
later, act romantic with me."

"Stupid. Loving that living corpse."

"She has part of my soul, Sesshomaru."

He raised his eyebrow. "That is news to me. And . . . it explains much."

"Yes." She shook her head again and sighed, "As I was saying, Kikyo . . . I never understood how
Inu-yasha could . . love her and me at the same time. And it would always upset me when she
would show up and he'd drop me like a hot potato to go to her, but . . . " She lowered her head
between her knees, stared at the ground and whispered, "Now . . . I'm beginning to understand
how he could . . . " In a very soft whisper, one that Sesshomaru could just barely hear she
continued, "love two people at the same time . . . "

Sesshomaru placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Kagome. Thank you." he whispered.
'She does love me . . . ' he thought in triumph. 'Not as much as my brother, that's plain to see.
But, I do have part of her heart.'

Kagome cried . . . She thought, 'I just don't know what to do . . ' Kagome tried to stop crying, but
she hiccupped . .

and hiccupped again . . .

Sesshomaru shook his head, "Look up." he ordered.

She looked up, his claws passed so close to her eyes, some of her eyelashes fall . . .

Kagome flopped backward and yelped . .

"What!!" Her hands went to her chest as she panted in fright.

"Good. You've stopped."

"Warn me next time."

"And ruin the effect?"

"Grr . . . " Kagome sat up, and sitting very straight, looked at Sesshomaru. In a very serious voice
asked, "Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands?"

"Yes, Miko Higurashi Kagome." Sesshomaru replied in a similar voice.

"There is one thing you should know about my relationship with your brother. I am not a virgin.
He and I have had sex."

(Author's note: see my story "Spring Fertility Festival" for details. {And "A Shard in Kyoto" for
her other sexual experience . . . })

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow, "And you considered that important?" he asked in a puzzled tone.

Kagome opened her mouth and she replied, "Huh? Don't you?"

"Do you remember what I asked my brother that time when you grabbed me?" Sesshomaru
asked, with one eyebrow raised. 'I was very shocked when she reached down and grabbed my
maleness and painfully squeezed it.' he thought.

Kagome blushed beet red. "Why do you still allow her to wear underwear, doesn't that interfere?"
she quoted.

(Author's note: full story in "When Friends Find Out")

"I was under the impression that you had a brain. Can you not make the proper connection?"

Kagome, a hint of anger in her voice, her face still beat red, nodded and said. "You thought Inu-
yasha and I were having sex on a regular basis."

"Of course. He is my brother. My father was a very lusty man. His mother was a whore. His brain
is in his penis, which, no doubt, is why . . . " Sesshomaru stopped the insult mid-sentence, but he
finished it in his mind, 'His brain is so small'. Kagome was glaring at him. "I'll let you in on a
secret, Sesshomaru-chan, every time you insult him, I will defend him." she said in an ice cold,
insulting voice.

A pause . . .

Sesshomaru nodded. 'Like I thought, with the two of them apart, she will think better of him and
she will defend him, like a wife will defend her missing husband. I must remember that.'

He sighed. "My apologies, Miko Higurashi Kagome. However, I do not have a positive opinion
of my brother, and you know that."

Kagome nodded.

"Yes, I do." Her mouth twitched, "I'll even agree that there are parts of his personality, I don't like
myself, but . . . "

Sesshomaru eyes widened, 'I never thought she'd admit that.'

Kagome continued, "that doesn't give you the right to insult him, especially without him here to
defend himself."

Sesshomaru took a deep breath, "If I may ask, what parts of my brother's personality would you
like to see improved?"

"His politeness." she replied in a pointed voice.

He nodded, acknowledging the hit against him.

"I'd like to see him not resort to violence as often as he does."

He nodded again.

"Other people are important, and he is, at times, very self-centered."

Sesshomaru growled. 'She's picking points about both of us that she dislikes, and no doubt,
wishes that I would change, as well.'
She grinned, "That he'd use the new toothbrush I give him each week, instead of 'losing' it. I like
puppy dog breath, but . . . sometimes his can get extreme." her eyes lock onto Sesshomaru's.

He nodded. "Very well, I believe the elves gave us a pair of toothbrushes." He grinned, "Shall I
ask you to help me?"

Kagome twisted her head, whispering . . . "Ask me that later . . " Her eyes narrowed, "And I
would like him to be more romantic. You, on other hand, have been. I'm sure you chose this
place." She waved at the romantic location. "For its romance, not simply because it was
convenient. May I ask why you are being romantic with me, which doesn't really seem like you?"

Sesshomaru paused . . . "You asked earlier about my feelings toward you, Higurashi Kagome."

Kagome nodded. She paused, and asked, "Wait . . . Sesshomaru?"

"Yes, what?" he asked in puzzlement.

"You never answered why my not being a virgin isn't upsetting you. I would have thought that
you would have wanted . . . any woman . . . that you have sex with to be a virgin."

"Why would you think that?" He asked in honest puzzlement.

"I've read stories and histories and all of them mention that . . especially for important
relationships." Kagome began. 'Nice euphemism for marriage, there.' she thought but continued,
"That the woman has to be pure or the relationship is canceled." she finished.

"Oh, that my wife has to be virgin." Sesshomaru translated.

Kagome blushed.

"You misunderstand, Higurashi Kagome. Marriages are based on politics, money, alliances both
for and against various possible wars, and other reasons. If my bride is a virgin, or that we can
even stand to see each other, it's a bonus. My marriages can't be canceled just because of my
wife's virginity, or lack thereof."

"But, the stories . . . "

"I am aware of them. Most of them are legends, and romantic legends at that. Not based on real
stories. I have seen the excuse 'My wife wasn't a virgin on the wedding night' used in real life. In
every instance it has led to a divorce and/or a war between the two families involved." His
eyebrow rose. "In one instance, it took twenty years after the marriage began, before the husband
discovered the fact that his wife wasn't a virgin on his wedding night. Interesting detail, correct?"

"Yes. So . . . "
"It is important for a wife, or any woman really, to act virginal in public. Wives are not whores.
In the bedroom, however, the wife is expected to pleasure her husband. If she doesn't know how
to do that, especially on his wedding night . . she is failing in her duty. And if she is failing in her
duty, he, of course, can and should seek out other, more experienced women, for his pleasure."

Kagome swallowed. 'Some of the stuff I've read . . . agrees with what he just said, but, I didn't
really think . . . ' she thought.

"Besides that, I never really expected you to be a virgin."

"And why is that." Kagome growled at him.

His eyebrows rose at her tone, but he continued. "You are a human female. Every human female
that I've meet has been a slut and a whore. Every one of them would, within hours of meeting me,
be on their stomach, kissing my toes, begging me to bed them."

"Everyone? Including Inu-yasha's mother and Rin?"

"Rin is too young. And you should be very much aware of my low opinion of Inu-yasha's mother."

Kagome nodded. Sesshomaru turned, looking away from her as he said, "You, however, are not
like that. We have been together for days, sleeping alone and in the nude yet . . . nothing has
happened. Your self restraint is one of the things about you that I admire the most."

"Th . . . thank you." Kagome stuttered in surprise at that compliment. 'And here I was thinking
that I've been acting like a slut these last few days.'

"Second, you are the apprentice Miko to Kaede."

"Well . . . not officially, I really don't spend all that much time at the village. Inu-yasha hates to
stay in one place all that long." Kagome interrupted.

Sesshomaru nodded, accepting the additional information, "I am now, aware of that. However,
that doesn't change some of the facts." A pause as he licked his lips, looking for the right words.
"This spring equinox, there was a burst of power from that village."

Kagome blushed, fully aware of the reasons behind that burst of power.

"Your power has a very distinctive aura, Miko. And I'm sure every mystic in eastern Japan felt
that burst. I know I did, and the lust surrounding that burst . . . was very . . . intense."

'So . . . not only did everyone in the village see Inu-yasha and I make love . . . how many other
people know?' Kagome thought in a panic.

"I am aware of that village's habit of having very sexually oriented religious festivals at the
spring, summer, fall and winter equinoxes. I believe that village also has something similar
around the rice planting and rice harvesting times as well." Sesshomaru continued.

'She is very embarrassed by this. Why? She is an apprentice miko in a farming village. Orgies at
those times are very common in most villages, so why is she upset? Every human, basically, does
it?' he thought in puzzlement.

"As Kaede's apprentice, especially given your young age, I assumed you would participate and
lead in the village orgies. It wasn't until you told me that you come from a different era that I
realized this springs fertility festival was probably the first festival you helped Kaede in. I am correct?"

"Yes." Kagome squeaked out.
"Why are you embarrassed? Those festivals are necessary to increase the fertility of the land. To
participate is an honor and a blessing. Besides, I believe that you have mentioned that your
bloodline includes the goddess Uzume. Any descendent of hers should be very hard to embarrass
about sexual matters."

"It's different where I come from Sesshomaru, ok? And . . . yes, I'm embarrassed." Kagome's face
was beet red, as she began to speak. "Public orgies are not done in the time I come from. And I'd
really appreciate it, if you just drop this, please?" she begged.

A pause . . .

Sesshomaru twisted his face in confusion, but, "Very well. When we get the time, however, I
think . . . I will begin to ask questions about your time, and how you grew up."

Kagome nodded.

"And I'll answer as I can, but remember, I'm still going to school, so there will be questions I
cannot answer."

He nodded, accepting her limits. "Do you wish me to continue answering your question about
why I'm not upset about your lack of virginity or answer your question about my feelings toward you?"

A pause, as Kagome considered his question. "My lack of virginity really doesn't matter?"

"Oh, to be honest." Sesshomaru paused. "I would have loved to take it. But, judging by your
embarrassment." he smiled, "I believe I will enjoy teaching you how to pleasure me."

"Sesshomaru! I haven't agreed to that!" Kagome stood up, yelling at him.

"Yes, you did." Sesshomaru replied. "You promised to have sex with me, once. I gave you the
chance to ignore that promise. You refused. I will take you up on that promise, Higurashi
Kagome. Not now, but I will."

Kagome swallowed and in a shaking voice whispered, "OK . . . so maybe I did, but."

"And when I do Kagome." Sesshomaru reached out and cupped her chin in his palm. "My father
saw to it that I was very well trained in the bedroom. You will enjoy it."
She shivered . . . "Why?"

"Why did he train me in the bedroom?"

She nodded, afraid to speak.

"He was a very lusty dog demon. And he did not want me to become seduced by females and
weakened by them. So, his solution was to make sure that I was always surrounded by beautiful
and available females. And every time I started to, perhaps, feel any soft emotions for one of my
bed partners . . . he made sure that I regretted it."

Kagome shivered, remembering the memories of Sesshomaru's youth and the awful choice that
his father gave him. "In the process, I spent a great deal of time in the bedroom with many very
experienced females and I learned many things." He stared into her eyes and he whispered,
"Teaching you . . . "

She shivered . . her nipples tented her shirt.

"But . . . not now. Even though . . . we'd both enjoy it." he whispered, in a rough voice full of sex.

She closed her eyes . . .

Sesshomaru took a deep breath, "Now my feelings toward you?"

She swallowed and opened her eyes, she wanted to see him as he explained. "Simple really. I
want you." Sesshomaru began to speak, staring into Kagome's eyes . . . trying to pour his
emotions into her.

"At first, perhaps, just because you were my brother's and upsetting him is enjoyable."

She growled.

"Later . . . " Sesshomaru reached out with his hands to grab her hands, and she let him. "Your
spirit, your drive. That self-restraint I mentioned. There have been nights when the thought of
taking you . . . but . . . I will restrain myself." His mouth twitched into a smile, "There is no way
I'm going to let a human female have more restraint than myself."

Kagome smiled, acknowledging the compliment.

"Even your physical beauty and smell all add up to a person that I want to get to know. A person
that intrigues me. A person that challenges me in so many ways . . and I've never been able to
back down from a challenge."

A pause . .

"A person that I have fallen in love with."

Tears began to form in Kagome's eyes. She could see that his eyes had begun to water as well.

Sesshomaru whispered in a pleading voice, "A person that I want to love me."

_____________________________

The end of chapter 31 . .

Author's note: Hopefully I did not lose that many readers and that very complex conversation
worked . . .

Chapter 32: Anything? Part 2. Preview:

Kagome said, "Sesshomaru, let's assume that a bunch of miracles happen and it's just the two of
us, what then?"

"Then you live in my castle and we live happily ever after."

"Nope. Never happen."


Thank you for reading, Jeff Shelton