InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome! Where are you?! ❯ anything part 2 ( Chapter 32 )

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

Chapter 32. Anything? Part 2.

Author's note: Well. Ch 31 went over much better than I expected.

I would have thought more people would have hated my attack on the marking custom and about
Kagome's virginity. Oh, well . . . now for more waff . . . (and some more weird tangents . . )

corrected by Angelica Birmingham

__________________________

From chapter 31 . .

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

Tears begin 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."

'How do I answer him?' Kagome wondered in a panic during the timeless moment after he
finished . . .

'If I say no, I'll hurt him. But how can I say, yes?' Kagome looked into his emotion filled eyes.
'But, how . . . '

"Sesshomaru . . . " she whispered, as she closed her eyes.

"We don't know each other well enough to say we love each other." her voice was rough with
emotion. "As much as I want to say that I am in love with you . . I just don't know you well
enough to say that." Kagome finished, and waited for his reaction.

"You did not refuse me, Lady Higurashi Kagome." Sesshomaru began. He moved next to her,
and Kagome could feel his presence. With a very light touch, he placed his hands on her
shoulders, "May I?"

She shook.

He slowly enveloped her in his arms. He whispered, "I am far too old to believe in love at first
sight, Kagome. So, if you need more time . . " His voice lightened, becoming more playful,
"That simply allows me more time to get to know you as well."

She blushed, and he continued. "As much as I want you to tell me that you love me
unconditionally I know that's not going to happen right now." He kissed the top of her head. "I
would give almost anything to be able to tell you that I've loved you since the day I met you, and
due to certain circumstances, I've had to pretend to dislike you and I've regretted every time I've
tried to kill you."

Kagome shook, her knees buckled, but Sesshomaru was holding her up. "But, I would be lying if
I did. I do, now, regret every time that I've tried to kill you, Kagome. But, that is only due to the
events of the last few days." He sighed, "To be truthful, most of the time, I . . . stupidly
dismissed you and ignored you. A mistake I now regret."

"Wh . . . what about." Kagome whispered into his chest. "That time when I grabbed you . . . "

"I provoked that, and as I said, I was ignoring you and you took advantage of my mistake. While
I do dislike your choice of attack, the fact is that you attacked me and were successful . . I
admire that."

Kagome whispered, "You . . . you're not upset that I said . . "

"You did not reject me," Sesshomaru whispered. "I can still win a place in your heart."

"Sesshomaru . . . " Kagome whispered, "you have a place in my heart. The thought of somebody,
even Inu-yasha, attacking you . . . hurts me. But . . . I also care about . . . "

"My brother." Sesshomaru stated.

Kagome nodded.
"I know.". . . 'If I press her to choose . . . that's a mistake. I just saw what she does when she is
forced to choose. And, yes, it'll hurt her. Perhaps, no certainly, worse than anything else I could
ever do to her . . . but she'll choose Inu-yasha. Her feelings for me are too new, too raw for her to
do anything else.' he mused.

His mouth twitched, 'It's too new for me, as well . . . all those years of suppressing any feeling
towards women. And now to feel this toward her . . . how much is that interfering with my
judgment? Perhaps I am going too fast?' he took a deep breath. "Do you wish me to stop?" he
whispered. 'If she rejects me . . . I don't know what I'll do . . . '

A pause . . .

Kagome's arms encircled him. "Just hold me . . "

Sesshomaru could smell her tears and feel their wetness against his chest.

"Sesshomaru?" she asked in a whisper. "Why . . . so playful at times? I never expected that . . . "

"You are the first person . . since I was younger than your kitsune . . . that I've felt comfortable
enough with to . . . forget, occasionally my station in life and . . . " he whispered in a rough and
uneven voice.

"And play with, like a child."

He nodded.

"You never had a childhood did you."

"Like most children?"

She nodded.

"No. My father was a hard man and he expected me to be harder than him."
She sobbed, "I'm sorry . . . "

"Shush . . . " his mouth twitched. "You had nothing to do with it . . . and . . . I am enjoying my
jokes far more than I ever thought I would."

A pause . . .

"Why? Why are you being so romantic? I would have bet that you didn't even know the word
romance, but instead . . . " her voice trailed off.

"I... I... could tell you . . no." he began, stopped, then began again. "Kagome, remember I've been
with many women in the past."

She nodded against his chest.

"Many of them, no, all of them, tried to be romantic with me, tried to seduce me. And while it
never worked, I do remember what they said and did." He reached down and raised her chin, so
he could look into her eyes, as he pleaded, "I learned many romantic techniques during that time,
and, yes, I am using those memories, as I attempt to get you to love me."

Kagome swallowed, "Why . . . why are you admitting that . . . "

Sesshomaru brought his head down, so that as they talk, their noses are just barely apart, "The
most important thing I learned . . . was that there is no real romance without truth and honesty.
My senses would allow me to know when the geisha was lying to me, when she really wanted
me, when she feared me . . . and the most . . . painful times I've had was when I learned that she
tricked me and didn't love me."

A pause.

"I will not lie to you Kagome." His mouth twitched, "It would be useless anyway, your powers
would detect it."

He sighed, "So, I am using the romantic techniques that I was taught. In an honest attempt to
show you my love."

Kagome closed her eyes and tears flowed . . . she whispered, "Why so . . . bold?"

"I told Eonwe that aggression wins in wars. I am aggressive, so . . . let's see if it also wins in
love, Kagome."

A long pause occurred as they hugged each other . . .

Kagome thought, 'Unless something happens . . . he's right, I will fall in love with him . . . if I'm
not already there. But, I still love Inu-yasha . . . I need to think about something to separate us . .
. before it's too late . . . '

Kagome released Sesshomaru from her hug, "May I?"

"Of course," Sesshomaru replied and he released her as well.

They backed a couple of steps away from each other, but still looked at each other.

Kagome wiped her tears, took a deep breath and asked, "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." she quickly replied.

Sesshomaru, a very shocked _expression on his face at that quick and very sure statement, asked
in a pained voice, "Why?"

Kagome looked at him, "I've wandered about Japan a lot recently and I've been learning about
how people live on a daily basis. Times have changed a lot, Sesshomaru. And in some ways the
past is better than the future, in other ways the future is better."

He nodded, trying to understand.

"Let's assume I marry you, although that is impossible with us being so far away from earth."
"Actually you're wrong there, Miko Higurashi Kagome." Sesshomaru interrupted. He reached
into his robe and pulled out his seal of office. "I am the Lord of the Western lands. This seal
would make any marriage license between us legal. And you are a Miko and can officiate the
religious part of the marriage."

"Witnesses!" Kagome quickly spat out, 'He's thought this through in more detail than I would
have guessed . . . ' was her panicked thought.

"My swords and your sword."

"But they aren't people . . . "

"Really? They can think, so they are alive. What else would you call them? Of course, having
them as witnesses would be very unusual and would make any marriage open to challenge." He
smiled, "But, with my seal on the marriage documents, I would be the one that the legal
challenge would go before. And I don't think I'll rule against this marriage."

Kagome looked at him, shocked, "You. Are you . . . " she stumbled.

Sesshomaru allowed a small grin on his face, "Oh, I am not formally asking for your hand in
marriage, Higurashi Kagome. I was just informing you that when I do . . . I will have things prepared."

He sighed, "Besides, marrying you would be the final straw between myself and my mother.
Open warfare would begin between us, as she would never accept this. And, while I have been
preparing for that war, I am not prepared enough to begin it." His eyes looked off into the
distance, as he considered that war, "Although, your power and mine combined . . . We would
win that war, but probably not decisively. There would be survivors and the war would begin
again once they had a chance to rest and recover."

Kagome whispered, "You wouldn't allow any survivors?"

"Of course, not. Everyone of her house, down to the newest pup, will have to be destroyed in
order to win, decisively. Otherwise, the war would begin again, sooner or later. I have seen far to
many wars like that. One side thinks its won, but they let, say a wife and a couple children live.
And in a generation, those survivors restart the war. I am not going to make that mistake."

Kagome grimaced at the very matter of fact manner Sesshomaru was using to describe war and
the killing of innocent children.

She shook her head. 'I'm going to have to think about this . . . sooner or later we will have an
argument about warfare and when we do. I must have a good argument to fight with, not just my
emotions, which are screaming at me that he is wrong.'

"Ok." Kagome began to speak, "As I was saying before we got sidetracked. I was about to
explain why marrying you and living in your castle would never happen."

Sesshomaru furrowed his brow in puzzlement. 'From the context, I can understand what she
means, but, what is sidetracked?'. . . "I would be very interested in hearing why you would refuse
my hand." Sesshomaru replied in a very polite voice. 'So I can know what I need to change in
order to win your hand.'

Kagome nodded, "If I was your wife, I'd have a lot of handmaidens, right?"

"Of course. Probably several dozen servants, human female servants are cheap." A pause, "Or
would you want dog demoness servants? They would be more expensive, but I'm sure something
can be worked out."

She shook her head no and grimaced, 'Another argument for the future.'

"You'd probably assign me a wing of the castle to live in."

"Of course. And if you want additional rooms, I will see that it is done."

Kagome nodded. "But . . . how often would I be able to meet, say, my friend Miroku or any man
for that matter?"

"Very rarely, when I am having a formal dinner you would be the hostess. Such functions,
especially since I dislike them, would take place perhaps once or twice a year. And during that
dinner you would be very rude if you spent a large amount of time speaking to any man." he growled.

Kagome narrowed her eyes, but asked another question. "How often would I be allowed to, say,"
she waved her arms at the beautiful surroundings, "be able to walk freely outside the castle?"

Sesshomaru paused. "Normally I'd say never, but I am aware of how much you enjoy wildness
settings, so I would probably allow the occasional trip outside the castle. Perhaps a couple of
times a year or so."

Kagome nodded. "How often would you be at the castle? You do seem to wander around your
lands on a constant basis."

Sesshomaru replied, "During the winter months I'd probably be at the castle fairly often, but
otherwise I will be in and out of the castle, mainly away as I patrol my lands."

"That's about what I expected you to say, Lord of the Western lands." Kagome said in a sweet voice.

Her voice changed to a harsher tone as she continued, "So, in other words I would be confined to
a wing of a medieval castle with only female companions that I have nothing in common with,
except for those times that you are home and have the free time to see me."

"Basically." Sesshomaru began, but he was cut off . . .

"I would not be able to leave the castle when I wish to. I would not be able to visit my friends
when I wish to." she said harshly.

"Such things aren't done, Higurashi Kagome. Not as the wife of the Lord of the Western Lands,
you would have a responsibility to maintain the proper image and decorum."

"Never. Lord of the Western Lands." she said in a hard voice.

Sesshomaru swallowed, that tone of voice is not a good sign . . .

"You should be aware of all the things I had in my bag?"

Sesshomaru nodded.

"Those are only a small part of the benefits of modern technology, Sesshomaru. I love the people
on Inu-yasha's side of the well. I love the scenery. I may even be or I am becoming an adrenalin junky."

Kagome, seeing Sesshomaru's confused _expression, relented and explained, "All of the
fighting, the danger, I might be enjoying that. I know that every time I go back home . . . it gets
more and more boring." She grinned, "The last few times Inu-yasha has come to get me, I've
been more than ready to return with him." She continued, "But, for all that I love the past. I am
going to hate living in a medieval castle with no hot and cold running water, without air
conditioning and central heat, with no TV, without any of the modern things that make life easier
. . . the only way I'll survive in that situation is by being able to visit my friends, being able to
explore the wildness, and perhaps even going on some death defying adventure, none which, as
the Lady of the Western Lands, I'll be able to do."

She stopped, looked at Sesshomaru and asked, "Would I, if I was your wife?"

Sesshomaru paused . . . He inclined his head to her. "This Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western
Lands, begins to understand what you are saying, Miko Higurashi Kagome. And this
Sesshomaru agrees that we do need to get to know each other, not only in combat, but in other situations."

Kagome smiled, "Good." She reached out, grabbed his shoulder and pulled him gently down to her.

He allowed her to bend him.

She brushed aside his hair and whispered in his ear. "A secret. I like Sesshomaru, the serious, but
occasionally, playful dog demon, I may even love him. But the Lord of the Western Lands . . .
that's another person and I don't like him."

Sesshomaru turned and looked into her eyes, "I am the same person."

Kagome nodded. "And sometimes . . . I have this urge to grab you, rip open your robe, throw
you to the ground and . . . " Kagome smiled, a smile full of lust.

Sesshomaru swallowed, and thought, 'I will not react, I will not grow hard . . . '

Kagome's _expression changed into a harder, more determined look, "And sometimes . . . I have
this urge to purify you and remove you from the world as an evil warlord." Her hands glowed
with power, "If you are going to force me to choose between you and your brother, be warned,
you will have to face a choice as well."

Sesshomaru nodded with a serious _expression on his face. "I understand, Miko Higurashi
Kagome. You have given me a great deal to think about."

"And you, Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, have given me a great deal to think about."
Kagome added.

They looked into each others eyes and they both nodded.

Kagome's eyes flicked up and looked around, she grimaced, "The day is passing and I need to eat
and wash up and we'll need to rest up for the next world."

Sesshomaru looked up, during their conversation, the sun had reached noon, but it was beginning
to be covered by the dark clouds from the volcanoes in the east. "Yes, it is time to move on." he
said and frowned. "But before we do Higurashi Kagome."

"Yes?"

"You promised to do anything I would ask of you."

Kagome swallowed and in a low voice asked, "Are you calling in that promise?"

"I am." Sesshomaru thought, 'I must show her that I am trustworthy. And so . . . I will use that
promise on a trivial promise. She will think better of me. And this will be very enjoyable . . '

"And what." Kagome licked her lips. "Do you wish me to do?" She thought, 'If he thinks he can
use that promise to change how I think . . he'll learn the hard way never to mess with me.'

"I'm not sure, Higurashi Kagome." he replied in a very uncertain voice. "I was thinking about a kiss."

"No." Kagome quickly replied, "I really wanted my first kiss to be with your brother."

"Even during the festival, you never kissed?" Sesshomaru asked surprised. 'I hate this, but, I've
got do as she asks, if I don't . . . I'll lose her . . . and that thought . . . hurts . . . ' he thought.

"He won't tell me he loves me, so I . . . until then, I didn't want him to kiss me."

"Hmmm . . . there are other places . . . " he whispered.

"May I hold you?"

Kagome nodded. "No kiss?"

Sesshomaru enfolded her in his arms. "Not on your lips."

He used one arm to brush back her silky black hair, revealing one of her ears.

He breathed on it.

He could feel Kagome shiver.

He kissed her ear.

He opened his mouth and his long tongue began to caress the top of her ear.

He could feel Kagome's nipples press against his chest.

He released her ear . . .

And slowly released her from his grasp.

"Thank you." he whispered.

She grabbed him.

She enfolded him in her arms.

"My turn." she breathed.

He bent his knees bringing his head down to her level.

She brushed his silky pure white hair away from his ear.
His long pointy ear twitched.

She kissed it.

Her tongue flipped the tip back and forth.

He purred deep in his chest . . .

She released his ear and let go of him.

She was breathing fast. Her chest moved up and down. Her nipples were tenting her shirt . . .

He was breathing fast. His purr trailed off . . . there is a bugle at his groin . .

"Lesson number one." he breathed.

She shivered. "You can smell me, can't you?"

"Yes."

"Hiding anything from you is impossible."

"Of course."

Kagome's eyes narrowed, "Those senses, all dog demons have them."

"Mine are superior, but otherwise you are correct."

"How can you hide anything from each other?"

"Why do you think I try to be emotionless?"

Kagome took a deep breath and nodded.

She shook her head. "No. We really need to do other things."

"Of course." he waved her toward the pond. "Do you wish to eat or clean up first?"

"Eat."

Later . . .

"Sesshomaru, do you want . . " Kagome started to hand him some of the Elvin food, but stopped.
"Oops, sorry. I wasn't thinking."

Sesshomaru, however, took the food from her. 'Do I tell her? If I don't . . . sooner or later she'll
think I'm hiding something from her . . and that thought is never good . . . '

"You've asked about why I refuse your food." Sesshomaru began. He crushed the elven bread in
his fist. "I will tell you why, but I want you to promise never to tell anyone, especially your
friend the demon exterminator."

Kagome looked at him in surprise, but seeing the very serious _expression on his face, she
nodded and said, "Of course, Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands, if this is so important to
you, I'll make that promise."

He nodded and sighed. 'How to start . . ' he mused.

(Author's note: What follows is based on a real Japanese legend about dogs. I've modified it to fit
Inu-yasha, but it's still basically the same.)

"You are aware of the habit of dogs in which they follow any person that feeds them." Kagome
nodded. "Yes. There are times that I wish I could speak with dogs, like Inu-yasha." Her mouth
twitched, "Sometimes as we leave a village I'll have a couple of village dogs following me and
he has to chase them back into the village."

"There are legends that say if you feed a dog three times the dog will be loyal to you unto his death."

"Yes, I've heard similar stories."

A pause . .

"That legend works and it applies to dog demons as well." he murmured.

Kagome swallowed, "So, if you ever ate three meals from me . . you'd become loyal to me?"

He shook his head, "No. Even one meal can do it." he whispered.

"Oh my gods . . . " she whispered . . . "all those meals I've offered . . . "

He nodded.
"I am very sorry, Sesshomaru, I didn't realize." She began to apologize.

He waved her off. "You didn't know."

He sighed, "Actually, my family has been, over the years, very successful at preventing that
knowledge from becoming widespread."

"Which is why you don't want me to tell anyone."
He nodded.

"Don't worry, Sesshomaru. I won't." she swallowed. "Wait . . Inu-yasha's mother . . . your father?"

Sesshomaru nodded. "It is my and my mother's opinion that she somehow tricked him into eating
her food." he paused. "Or rather, it was my opinion."

Kagome whispered, "Why did you change your opinon?"

"These last few days alone with you." A pause.

He continued to speak in a very odd tone, "My father took Inu-yasha's mother into his pleasure
quarters and they stayed there, alone, for four days. When he came out, he was changed. He . . .
loved her and things changed." he whispered. "For the worse." Sesshomaru licked his lips and
continued, "I had assumed she tricked him. But, now . . . I wonder. Did he eat her food voluntarily?"

"Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, I, Higurashi Kagome, promise that I will never offer
you food again." Kagome stated in her most authoritative voice.

Her mouth twitched, "Although, knowing me, I probably will offer you food in the future,
Sesshomaru, and if I do . . . " she shook her head, "punish me."

"You are a kind hearted woman, Higurashi Kagome. I expect that, even if we were to live
together for years, you'd still offer me food. That is what a polite woman is supposed to do."

Kagome nodded, "I know you're going to hate this question, but I have to ask it. Inu-yasha?"

He nodded, expecting the question. "Half dog demons are affected. His mother's milk qualified."

Kagome brushed her hand across her face, her voice was full of relief, "Whoosh . . . good. So, I
didn't do anything to him."

Sesshomaru cleared his throat. Kagome looked at him, a horrified _expression on her face. "I am
not sure about that, Higurashi Kagome. He was dead during those fifty years. I did visit him and
confirmed that. When you awoke him . . . I do not know." He paused, trying to say the right
words, the _expression on her face, even though it was about his brother, was causing him
emotional pain. "I should also mention that Kikyo is a very powerful and knowledgeable Miko.
While my family has tried to keep this a secret, she may have discovered it. And. . ." Sesshomaru
shrugged, "I would not ignore the possibility that she could break the loyalty bond and reapply it
to herself. It would explain some of my brother's actions."

"It would. But . . " Kagome looked into Sesshomaru's eyes. "Is there any way?"

Sesshomaru shook his head. "Learning exactly how the bond operates, how to break or modify it
was never a popular thing to study, so my ancestors . . "

She nodded accepting that.

"Now, I will say that when my father changed, my mother, who is a very powerful sorceress, did
begin to study the loyalty bond. She may have discovered something, but . . . I haven't spoken
with her in decades and even before that, she and I did not get along."

"Gods . . . " Kagome whispered . . . 'I've got to remember when and who made the first food that
Inu-yasha ate after he woke up . . . '

Kagome suddenly asked, "Do you know if it's the act of offering the food, or of it is who
prepares the food, more important to the bond?"

Sesshomaru shrugged. "I believe it is the act of offering the food, but, I've tried, very hard, over
the years never to get into a situation where I would find out." Sesshomaru's voice roughens as
he states, "And the worst thing about the food loyalty bond is that only if a human offers a dog
demon food. . . then it works. I can eat anything prepared by any other race without being
affected. But if it's human food or a human offering food... the legend applies."

"Is water ok?"

He nodded. "Natural water is. That water you had in cans. . . " he shook his head, "I don't know
about that."

Kagome nodded, sighing. "I hope . . . "

"If this means anything to you . . . I do hope that the feelings that my brother has towards you are
his own and not due to this legend." Sesshomaru whispered. 'So . . his feelings can change and
he can lose you.' he thought.

"Sesshomaru, thank you. I never would have thought I'd hear anything like that from you."
Kagome said in a very pleased voice. She smiled at him.

He nodded at her and smiled back . . .

"While you are eating, why don't you tell me about some of the foods from where," Sesshomaru
frowned, "or is when, the better term?"

"Whichever you prefer, Sesshomaru. It confuses me as well." Kagome replied with laughter in
her voice.

"Very well. Where, you are from, then? Time travel is confusing."

"Hah." Kagome laughed, "The first night I was back home and had some free time to think about
time travel . . . I must have gone around and around time travel paradox's."

Sesshomaru smiled. "I can imagine. There was a fox demon, oh . . forty years ago, now, who
thought he had a time travel spell. I'm not really sure what he was doing, but it didn't work
against me."

Kagome giggled, "Why are you asking about food, anyway?"

"It is something that we can talk about, Kagome. I do want to get know you and as we talk . . "

"We'll get to know each other."

Sesshomaru nodded.

"Ok . . Pizza. I know you haven't any, so . . . " Kagome smiled as she began to talk about her
favorite foods . . .

Sesshomaru allowed his mouth to twitch as he listened and commented . . .

Later . . .

Kagome was sitting by the pond going through her new bag, trying to find the new Elvin bathing
gear she was given.

Sesshomaru was standing off to one side. Tokijin was still in the ground protecting them. It was
afternoon, but the dark clouds from the volcanoes had covered the sky, so the light was murky
and darkening .

Sesshomaru moved over and sat next to Kagome.

Kagome, startled, asked, "Huh?"

"May I help you with your bath, Higurashi Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked in rough voice.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome looked at him, "Why?"

Sesshomaru's mouth twitched, "Grooming is part of dog demon courtship." He reached out to
stroke her hair, "And while you are not a dog demoness . . . I am courting you."

Kagome swallowed, hard. "N. . no . . . nothing else?" she finally got out.

"Only if you allow it." he replied in a low intense voice.

Kagome closed her eyes. "Why, Sesshomaru? Why are you willing to allow me to decide? I
would have thought that you would have hated to allow me to control . . . our relationship." she finished.

A pause . . .

Kagome opened her eyes and looked at him.

He had a very troubled _expression on his face. "Earlier today, I promised that I would not lie to
you . . . " he began. "Answering this question of yours . . . makes me wish I never made that statement."

He swallowed. "But." he looked around, but his eyes were focused in on Kagome's as he began
to explain. "My instincts are screaming at me to take you, Kagome." His voice was full of rough
emotion as he spoke, "To grab you, to force you . . . to make you mine and only mine."

Kagome gasped and twitched.
"But, I am not an animal. To do that is to loose you, Kagome." His hands found hers and he
grasped them. "Oh, I could force you, and I would gain your body momentarily, but I would lose
everything else." His mouth twitched into something that might be a smile, "Do you know? You
could probably add up all the conversations I've had in last decade or more, and they would be
less than what I've said to you in the last few days. As much as I am going to enjoy your body."

Kagome blushed at that statement of absolute certainty.

"I am enjoying our talks far more than I would ever have guessed. And to take you against your
will . . . I lose you in every way. And I do not lose." he finished in a very determined voice. "I
can treat you as if all of what has happened to us was nothing." He squeezed her hands, "And
give up on the only chance of happiness I've had in generations, but I will not give up."

Kagome swallowed and squeezed his hands.
"Which leaves? Letting you decide." He brought her hands up to his face, "I am not going to win
everything. At least not today, anyway. But, I stay in your heart and sooner or later, I will find a
way to win." He kissed her hands, "Besides... helping you bathe... will be very enjoyable." Lust
oozed from his voice.

"I control?" Kagome whispered in a very uncertain voice.

"Nothing will happen, unless you ask for it."

A pause as they stared into each other's eyes.

In that timeless pause, Kagome thought, 'Part of me, my feelings for Inu-yasha, are screaming at
me to stop this. The longer I let this go on . . . the harder it'll be when we return home. The
correct thing to do would be to reject him . . . ' Her eyes watered, 'But . . how can I reject him?
Unlike Miroku, who can say the exact same romantic words, but I know with Miroku they mean
nothing, except as a way to get between my legs . . . I can feel Sesshomaru's emotions . . . He
means what he said. How can I hurt him? I know that he's never been happy and now . . . can I
deny him that?' She licked her lips, 'Surely, I can let him be happy at least for a little while. As
long as I control it, nothing bad will happen.' Kagome nodded and whispered, "Yes, Sesshomaru,
you can help me."

The end chapter 32 . .

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Preview Chapter 33 The Bath . .

Sesshomaru raised his finger, it was slick with Kagome's female juices . . .

He placed it in his mouth and sucked on it . .

He took it out of his mouth and whispered to Kagome, "You taste even better than you smell . . . "

Kagome shuddered at the pleasure flowing through her . .

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Author's note: For the lemon lovers . . .

Next chapter will be as erotic as I can make it.

(By my original outline, this would be around chapter 42 to 45, but since Ch 18, I have been
ignoring my goal of 2500 words per chapter and just letting the chapters flow. Because of that . .
. you, the readers, are getting this about 3 weeks faster than I had planned.)

Now . . . am I going too fast with their relationship?
Thank you for reading, Jeff Shelton.