InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ A Moment With You ( Chapter 43 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.11.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 386 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.11.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 386 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
A Moment With You __________________________________________________________________ ______
“Does that feel any better?” Miroku asked as he applied the triple folded scrap of wet cloth to his wife’s back.
Her cool skin nearly numb from the previously applied compresses, the huntress hardly flinched when the frigid material touched her skin. “It’s a lot better now. Thanks Miroku.” she breathed as she tried to relax on the thin blanket that separated her from the cave’s stone floor.
Not far away, Inuyasha sat with his arms folded in his sleeves, his back toward the pair. He hated having to just sit here and he was barely managing to keep his complaints to himself. As he had expected, there was water deep within these caves. He was not sure how long they had traveled, but because Kirara was able to carry Sango, they were able to move fairly quickly. They had eventually come to this small chamber where a section of the floor was worn away by a thin stream of rapidly flowing water.
Deciding this was a good place to tend to his wife, Miroku had helped the slayer from Kirara’s back and for the last fifteen minutes or so he had been attempting to shrink the sizable knot on the woman’s back. Inuyasha could understand that Sango was injured and she needed to be cared for, but he was really eager to find Kagome and to a slightly lesser extent, Sesshoumaru.
The hanyou’s right leg, though folded beneath his left, bounced repeatedly as he attempted to suppress his impatience. He knew how it annoyed his friends when he did this but at the moment he just couldn’t bring himself to care. His mind was a mess of confusing and unpleasant thoughts, none of them serving to calm his rattled nerves. Right now, Kagome was alone in these dark caves with Sesshoumaru. Though her safety was a big issue for the half-demon, that wasn’t what he was worried about at the moment. Even if the arrogant jerk was too full of himself to admit it openly, Sesshoumaru clearly had feelings for Kagome. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but…
The hanyou allowed his thoughts to trail off, the image of Kagome in Sesshoumaru’s arms stirring the old familiar feelings of possessiveness in his tumultuous heart. While he was coming to accept that their ‘friendship’ was far more than either of them seemed to be willing to admit, it was quite another matter imagining what they could be doing alone together in a dark cave.
Then, there was the guilt...
He felt guilty because if he should have been worried about anything, or rather anyone, it should have been Kikyou. She was left alone to look after two villages, and really, he hadn’t even thought about her until he rediscovered his possessiveness toward Kagome. He remembered what the elder priestess had told him, how he needed to let go of his feelings for Kagome.
Maybe it was due to his mixed blood, but a part of him wanted to let Kagome go, and a part of him didn’t even see it as an option. The conflict of his emotions was frustratingly confusing and at this very moment causing a slow ache to build between his temples.
Suddenly, the hanyou became aware of another presence somewhere in the cave and his train of thought was abandoned as his ears strained to listen for signs of a possible threat. Unnoticed to his narrowed eyes, the beads on his wrist began to emit a faint glow as he unfolded his legs and rose to his feet. The tension began to melt from his body as the presence drew closer to their location, its familiarity unmistakable if not slightly altered.
“Kagome…?” Inuyasha wondered aloud, his soft utterance drawing the attention of his friends.
Looking up at him from Sango’s side, Miroku frowned at the confused expression on the hanyou’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Can you smell Kagome’s scent?” Sango asked hopefully.
“No…” the half-demon answered quietly but before they could question him further he added, “But I can… feel her. At least I… I think it’s her.”
“What do you mean?” Miroku asked as he rose to stand near the other male. What Inuyasha was saying didn’t sound right to him and he was beginning to worry that someone was trying to trick them. Years of dealing with Naraku and his convoluted schemes had a way of making one wary in situations such as these.
A space of silence stretched out as fine strands of tension wove into the air around them. Soon, a faint glow appeared deep within the tunnel that had brought them to this chamber.
Feeling that he had been deceived, Inuyasha frowned, a low growl building in the back of his throat. “Who are you?!” he roared as the small glowing figure began to take shape. Undaunted and evidently in no rush to answer his question, the tiny figure continued its approach. Drawing his sword and pointing it in the direction of the small being the hanyou yelled again. “I asked you a question! What are you trying to pull?”
Still, the diminutive creature said nothing and instead continued to move toward them.
“What is it?” Sango asked urgently, her position on the floor not allowing her to see what the males apparently did. Moving to a protective position near her mistress, Kirara trained her gaze on the same opening, her muscles tense and her fangs bared.
“I don’t know,” Inuyasha finally answered, “But I’m about to find out!”
“Wait!” Miroku said before the half-demon could take off into the tunnel.
Scowling at the hand that circled his right wrist, Inuyasha’s expression again reflected his puzzlement when he saw that his rosary was emitting a pale golden glow.
“What the…?” the silver-haired male asked quietly, the golden glow of the beads reflecting in his rounded eyes.
“I was about to ask you the same thing.” Miroku said as they both continued to stare at the portion of rosary. “Do you mean to tell me that you have never seen it do this before?”
“Course not!” the hanyou shot back, “If I had do you think I’d be-”
“Look!” Sango yelled as she struggled to point toward the tunnel.
Abandoning their discussion, both males turned toward the channel, their eyes widening in surprise when they saw the small child that stood before the entrance. Feeling, as well as seeing the mixed reactions to her presence, the girl executed a respectful bow in the traveler’s general direction and said, “Forgive me for not answering your question, but my mistress did not assign me a name.”
“Your… mistress?” Miroku asked, his brow creased in obvious confusion.
His surroundings nearly forgotten, Inuyasha studied the child‘s appearance intently. Long, wavy dark tresses spilled freely down her back as she stood with her little arms tucked into the sleeves of her haori. Aside from the less conventional black hakama, she was dressed in the preferred attire of a Shinto priestess, her tiny form held in place by small, inwardly-pointed, sandaled feet.
‘She looks just like…’
“Kagome-sama…” the girl unknowingly finished his thought for him. “She sent me to find you.”
“Is that so?” the monk asked contemplatively. “Forgive me if I seem reluctant to take your word at face value, but how can we be certain you are telling us the truth?”
As if she had anticipated that very question, the girl smiled and nodded before allowing her arms to unfold. She was watched with caution as she slowly approached, her right hand held out in front of her. The tiny appendage was fisted, keeping them from seeing what was concealed within until she entered the circle of light cast off by Kirara. Lowering his sword, Inuyasha watched as the child uncurled her hand to reveal Kagome’s portion of his rosary. __________________________________________________________________ ______
The excitement of their accomplishment fading quickly from her mind, Kagome stared at the intense, but unreadable expression that was currently fixed upon her. Lips parting to question her companion, the miko instantly silenced when a single arm rose from the water. She watched with interest as the trails of water fell from the uplifted appendage, the sound of dripping water the only sound her human ears could hear.
Faintly amused by the bewildered expression she wore, Sesshoumaru said nothing as he lifted his hand to her face. Using the pad of his thumb, he carefully brushed away a tiny rivulet of blood before it could drip into her eye.
Her brow crinkled in the smallest of frowns but she voiced no complaints of either pain or his touch. Mimicking his movement, Kagome brushed the tips of her fingers across the place he’d touched before inspecting them for residual blood. She was only slightly surprised to find just a trace amount of red mixed in with the water that had escaped her bangs to drizzle down her forehead. Only then did she recall being pelted by a piece of rock before she was swept out of the underwater channel.
“It hurts?” she heard the inu lord ask and she discarded her train of thought in favor of looking up at him.
“No…” she said quietly, “Not really.”
Giving a slight nod, Sesshoumaru said nothing further before he began to swim, taking them both to the edge of the pool. He then released the miko and watched as she pulled herself from the water. Seconds later, he too exited the pool and began to wring the water from his long hair. Kagome thought to do the same but became distracted by her occupied left hand.
‘The first key…’ she thought again, a small smile curving her lips.
“Well,” she said aloud, “That’s one down and three to go.” Looking up at the daiyoukai her smile broadened. “I never would have been able to get it if you hadn’t helped me. Thank you Sesshoumaru.” she said appreciatively and without considering their meager state of dress, the miko reached forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Surprised by the impromptu show of gratitude, the inu lord paused to look down at her.
Only when her cheek pressed against Sesshoumaru’s bare chest did Kagome realize what she had done. Embarrassed but refusing to show it, the miko ignored both her intrusion of his personal space and the fact that he was not returning her sudden display of affection.
When her blush faded to a level she deemed manageable, the miko’s hold began to loosen as she prepared to back away. Though she had felt the circle of his embrace before, Kagome was surprised when his arms wrapped around her, halting her retreat. Suddenly awash with an odd combination of contentment, giddiness and something a bit less innocent, she could do nothing but smile and return her arms to their previous position around his waist.
They stayed like that for several seconds before the young miko loosened her hold again to look up at him. Gracing him with a smile in the rapidly darkening cave she told him, “I’m glad you decided to come with me.”
“As am I.” he admitted to her surprise and before she could pull further away, his arms tightened around her. She felt her heart rate increase as his head slowly descended toward her. Wide brown eyes stared up at him as the scant distance between them was devoured by his steady approach and with the comprehension of his intent came the soft, languorous press of his lips against hers.
Gasping quietly against his lips, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut while her hands curled into tight fists. Her spine initially stiff with shock, her body eventually calmed while her mind began to race. Why was he kissing her this time?! The last time, she had assumed he had just done it to silence her rambling, but this time…
The miko’s thoughts came to an immediate halt when she felt Sesshoumaru draw her lower lip into his mouth. A small, involuntary moan escaped her as the tip of his tongue dragged slowly across the sensitive flesh. Nervous, but enjoying the simmering heat that was rising up to surround them, Kagome flattened her hand against his chest. Without thinking to do so, she spread her fingers across his warming skin, her little finger inadvertently brushing against his nipple.
This time it was Sesshoumaru who gasped and to the miko’s further surprise, he suddenly pulled away to look at her.
Withdrawing her hand swiftly, she curled her offending appendage against her own heaving bosom. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered nervously, “I-I didn’t mean to do that!”
The daiyoukai said nothing, his piercing eyes boring into her and increasing her nervousness one hundred fold.
“Umm… we… we should probably get dressed.” the miko said breathlessly.
Instead of turning away to follow her suggestion as she had expected, the demon lord retrieved her hand. Lost in his intense, unreadable eyes, she hardly noticed the movements of his fingers as they gently unfolded her hand. Then, moving very, very slowly, he placed her hand back on his chest, this time with her palm coming to rest against the now hardened flesh of his nipple.
He continued to watch her, interested to see how she would react and if she would pull away from him as she had done before. Lowering her gaze, the miko looked first at his clawed fingers which were still wrapped around her wrist, then at her hand which was again splayed over his chest.
His skin was still damp, but surprisingly warm. If she concentrated hard enough, she was sure she could feel his heartbeat through the taut layer of muscle and silken flesh.
Almost of its own accord, her hand began to move. Sesshoumaru continued to survey her reactions as her palm glided over his chest. Though his fingers still circled her wrist, he allowed her freedom of movement in her tentative exploration.
Barely aware of what she was doing, and the heat she was stirring within the male that stood before her, Kagome watched her hand with detached interest. Slowly, her palm moved from right to left and then back again. Her fingers again brushed delicately over the budded flesh of his nipple and she noticed how his muscles seemed to tremble in reaction to her touch.
A small, bashful smile tilted the edges of her lips, her mind finally clearing enough to realize that she was essentially feeling up the most deadly youkai in the land.
‘Well,’ she thought, as her hand continued to roam, ‘He doesn’t seem to be complaining about it. Besides, he feels… nice.’
Peaking up at him through her lashes, the breath was stolen from her lungs, her hand instantly ceasing its movements as she took in the searing look in his eyes. Caught in the inferno his golden gaze invoked, the young priestess dared not move another muscle. The decision of what to do next was stolen from her as the inu lord again captured her lips in an all consuming kiss. Unlike the first time, this one spoke of fervor and urgency.
His heated breath brushed against her upper lip as his arms tightened around her, lifting her from the cave floor. Attempting to catch her breath, Kagome parted her lips and managed to suck in a deep breath before his tongue brushed against her own. Drawn to the allure of this new intimacy between them, the miko cautiously replicated the movement of his lips and tongue. Exhilaration rushed through her veins and even though something at the back of her mind suggested that they should stop, the young priestess offered no resistance as her right thigh was lifted and brought to rest over his left hip.
The feel of his damp fundoshi against her skin held her attention for only a moment before his splayed hand slid further up her thigh. The need to breath asserting itself once more, she tore away from his lips, her head lolling back as she attempted to draw oxygen back into her body.
For his part, Sesshoumaru took this as an invitation and latched onto the delicate skin of her neck. The dangerous tips of his fangs dragged across her now heated skin before his tongue soothed the tingling trails. He felt her start to tremble and knowing it was not from cold, a small smirk formed on his lips. Nudging her jaw with the tip of his nose, he encouraged her to tilt her head further and allow him better access. Then, starting from her collarbone, he began planting searing, open mouthed kisses from her collarbone, to just below her ear.
Her glazed, half lidded eyes staring up at the dark ceiling of the cave, Kagome felt his every movement, from the slow press of his lips against her neck, to the constant wag of his thumb against her upper thigh and even the splay of his remaining hand against her bare back.
‘What are we doing?’ she wondered detachedly. ‘Should I really be letting this happen? Do I want this to happen?’
While the young priestess remained undecided as to how far she was willing to go, Sesshoumaru’s intentions were far less ambiguous. Without turning his attention away from her, he used one hand to cup her bottom and, ignoring her gasp of surprise, he stretched his remaining arm out in front of him to a place she could not see. Within seconds he had summoned his pelt. Under the command of his youki, the thick fur sprawled at his feet before bending back and forth against itself to create a makeshift futon.
He pressed a final kiss just beneath her jaw line before he kneeled and placed her upon the pelt. Swallowing in spite of how dry her throat was, Kagome stared up as one of the demon’s knees came to rest between her parted legs.
A frantic part of her mind was screaming at her, telling her to SAY something before it was too late. It kept reminding her that she was dangerously close to loosing her virginity right now and asking if that was something she really wanted to do at this precise moment in time. It implored her to consider the consequences that might follow this encounter and begged that she take a moment to think things through.
But thinking was difficult when smoldering heat flooded her veins and the ravenous ache that had awakened low in her belly, recklessly insisted that she throw caution to the wind and keep her big mouth shut, unless it was to suck on Sesshoumaru’s earlobe.
Finally, her lips parted but the only thing she could think to say was, “Your fur’s gonna get all wet… m-my hair…”
As if to prove her point, she ran her fingers through the still sopping tresses before releasing them to plop heavily against her back.
He stared at her for what seemed like a long time before his lips quirked in a tiny, lopsided smirk. “It is a sacrifice I am willing to make.” he drawled quietly, the slight rasp of his voice charging the air between them and weakening the miko’s already half-hearted resolve to resist his advances.
Her eyes widened as he again moved toward her, the heat of his body enveloping her as his knees pushed her legs further and further apart. Her breathing coming in increasingly swift, shallow pants, Kagome didn’t notice the movement of his hand until it flattened against her belly. The daiyoukai gave an assertive push and the miko found herself laying flat on her back with an obviously aroused demon lord hovering over her.
She only caught a glimpse of his tented fundoshi before he leaned in to press his lips to the upper portion of her neck, but it was more than enough to send her heart racing. Torn between her mind’s insistence that she push him away and her body’s desire to pull him even closer, Kagome settled for placing a hand on either side of him and allowed her palms to rest against his ribs. Though a big part of her wanted this, really, really wanted this, the more logical part of her brain knew that now was not the time, knew that if she was to escape the heartache she had endured with Inuyasha, some things would have to be established between them first.
Just when she thought she had found her voice, Sesshoumaru bit down on her neck stealing a loud gasp from the bemused miko. Though it was not painful, it sparked something within her and the simmering heat in her belly erupted into a blazing inferno. Her nails convulsively digging into his sides, she arched her back inadvertently pressing her breast into his chest.
A growl, low and dangerous was felt more than heard and while it should have frightened the little miko, it did nothing but fan the already consuming flames. Her indecision melted away as one of his hands smoothed up her side, his thumb brushing against the side of her breast. He pulled away from her neck and like she had done earlier, soon became lost in the movement of his hand across her body. His palm slid up and over the swell of her breast, and though the soft mound of flesh was still clothed a hardened nipple did not escape his notice.
Carefully, so that his claws did not damage her flesh, he tucked a finger beneath the material and pulled it down. Kagome gritted her teeth as she looked up at him, and saw that his gaze was now fixed on the breast he had just exposed. She wondered what he would do next, but the answer came swiftly as he leaned in and drew her hypersensitive nipple into his mouth. Unprepared for the pleasure that came when he began a gentle, teasing massage with his tongue, a needy moan spilled from her lips.
He hooked one arm beneath her, his fingers gripping her shoulder as if attempting to prevent her escape while he used the claws of his remaining hand to trail lightly over her ribs and across her stomach.
“Ah…! Sess…” she breathed as she arched into his touch. “What… what are you doing to me…?”
Her body was on fire, yet she could only crave more as his hand moved further down her abdomen. His fingers soon found the elastic band of her panties, and he traced it lightly before dipping his fingers inside.
“Sess… Sesshoumaru…” she panted as his unyielding digits slipped through the short, damp hairs of her nether regions.
He gave no sign that he heard her and his middle finger parted her lower lips quickly locating the inflamed bundle of nerves that hid within. He began a torturously slow massage, and the trembling miko cried out in pleasure while her fingernails convulsively bit into his skin. With the beaconing scent of her arousal, the movements of both his fingers and tongue became more insistent.
Through the calls of her body, and the sinfully sweet sensations the demon lord was causing, Kagome could feel something else, something urgent that meant they needed to stop right now!
Gasping, though from his touch or realization she could not tell, Kagome attempted to get his attention again. “Sesshoumaru,” she called, her voice urgent but clouded with unspent desire. “We… we need to stop…”
He finally pulled away from her breast, the sound of breaking suction meeting her ears before he placed a wet kiss on her belly. “This Sesshoumaru,” he trailed off before kissing her again, “…reserves the right,” he paused and dragged his tongue across the same spot, “…to disagree.”
“No,” she insisted, “We… Ah! Could you stop doing that for just a second?!” He didn’t, but she managed to press on anyway.
“It’s the shikigami!” she said quickly as she wrapped her hand around his arm and gave a light tug. “I can sense her… she must have found Inuyasha and the others!”
Though reluctant to do so, he finally stopped his delicious, torturous massage and looked down at her. “How close are they?”
Though her body still hummed with the accumulated desire caused by his touch, she managed to focus long enough to give an answer she felt was accurate. “They… they should be here in a few minutes.”
Needing a more specific answer he asked, “What do you mean by ‘a few minutes?’”
“I can’t say for sure… ten minutes… maybe less.”
The daiyoukai’s eyes narrowed, his lips thinning to a fine line. Ten minutes was not nearly enough time for what he wanted to do. Repressing a growl at his brother’s horrific timing, he silently vowed retribution before pushing up to sit on his heels. The miko gave him an apologetic look before she scampered away to collect her clothing. Then, sighing quietly he resigned to the fact that he would not have the priestess this night. On the plus side however, he had discovered her willingness to accept him as a lover as well as a friend.
He could only hope they would be granted another opportunity to be alone together… soon. __________________________________________________________________ ___
A Moment With You __________________________________________________________________ ______
“Does that feel any better?” Miroku asked as he applied the triple folded scrap of wet cloth to his wife’s back.
Her cool skin nearly numb from the previously applied compresses, the huntress hardly flinched when the frigid material touched her skin. “It’s a lot better now. Thanks Miroku.” she breathed as she tried to relax on the thin blanket that separated her from the cave’s stone floor.
Not far away, Inuyasha sat with his arms folded in his sleeves, his back toward the pair. He hated having to just sit here and he was barely managing to keep his complaints to himself. As he had expected, there was water deep within these caves. He was not sure how long they had traveled, but because Kirara was able to carry Sango, they were able to move fairly quickly. They had eventually come to this small chamber where a section of the floor was worn away by a thin stream of rapidly flowing water.
Deciding this was a good place to tend to his wife, Miroku had helped the slayer from Kirara’s back and for the last fifteen minutes or so he had been attempting to shrink the sizable knot on the woman’s back. Inuyasha could understand that Sango was injured and she needed to be cared for, but he was really eager to find Kagome and to a slightly lesser extent, Sesshoumaru.
The hanyou’s right leg, though folded beneath his left, bounced repeatedly as he attempted to suppress his impatience. He knew how it annoyed his friends when he did this but at the moment he just couldn’t bring himself to care. His mind was a mess of confusing and unpleasant thoughts, none of them serving to calm his rattled nerves. Right now, Kagome was alone in these dark caves with Sesshoumaru. Though her safety was a big issue for the half-demon, that wasn’t what he was worried about at the moment. Even if the arrogant jerk was too full of himself to admit it openly, Sesshoumaru clearly had feelings for Kagome. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but…
The hanyou allowed his thoughts to trail off, the image of Kagome in Sesshoumaru’s arms stirring the old familiar feelings of possessiveness in his tumultuous heart. While he was coming to accept that their ‘friendship’ was far more than either of them seemed to be willing to admit, it was quite another matter imagining what they could be doing alone together in a dark cave.
Then, there was the guilt...
He felt guilty because if he should have been worried about anything, or rather anyone, it should have been Kikyou. She was left alone to look after two villages, and really, he hadn’t even thought about her until he rediscovered his possessiveness toward Kagome. He remembered what the elder priestess had told him, how he needed to let go of his feelings for Kagome.
Maybe it was due to his mixed blood, but a part of him wanted to let Kagome go, and a part of him didn’t even see it as an option. The conflict of his emotions was frustratingly confusing and at this very moment causing a slow ache to build between his temples.
Suddenly, the hanyou became aware of another presence somewhere in the cave and his train of thought was abandoned as his ears strained to listen for signs of a possible threat. Unnoticed to his narrowed eyes, the beads on his wrist began to emit a faint glow as he unfolded his legs and rose to his feet. The tension began to melt from his body as the presence drew closer to their location, its familiarity unmistakable if not slightly altered.
“Kagome…?” Inuyasha wondered aloud, his soft utterance drawing the attention of his friends.
Looking up at him from Sango’s side, Miroku frowned at the confused expression on the hanyou’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Can you smell Kagome’s scent?” Sango asked hopefully.
“No…” the half-demon answered quietly but before they could question him further he added, “But I can… feel her. At least I… I think it’s her.”
“What do you mean?” Miroku asked as he rose to stand near the other male. What Inuyasha was saying didn’t sound right to him and he was beginning to worry that someone was trying to trick them. Years of dealing with Naraku and his convoluted schemes had a way of making one wary in situations such as these.
A space of silence stretched out as fine strands of tension wove into the air around them. Soon, a faint glow appeared deep within the tunnel that had brought them to this chamber.
Feeling that he had been deceived, Inuyasha frowned, a low growl building in the back of his throat. “Who are you?!” he roared as the small glowing figure began to take shape. Undaunted and evidently in no rush to answer his question, the tiny figure continued its approach. Drawing his sword and pointing it in the direction of the small being the hanyou yelled again. “I asked you a question! What are you trying to pull?”
Still, the diminutive creature said nothing and instead continued to move toward them.
“What is it?” Sango asked urgently, her position on the floor not allowing her to see what the males apparently did. Moving to a protective position near her mistress, Kirara trained her gaze on the same opening, her muscles tense and her fangs bared.
“I don’t know,” Inuyasha finally answered, “But I’m about to find out!”
“Wait!” Miroku said before the half-demon could take off into the tunnel.
Scowling at the hand that circled his right wrist, Inuyasha’s expression again reflected his puzzlement when he saw that his rosary was emitting a pale golden glow.
“What the…?” the silver-haired male asked quietly, the golden glow of the beads reflecting in his rounded eyes.
“I was about to ask you the same thing.” Miroku said as they both continued to stare at the portion of rosary. “Do you mean to tell me that you have never seen it do this before?”
“Course not!” the hanyou shot back, “If I had do you think I’d be-”
“Look!” Sango yelled as she struggled to point toward the tunnel.
Abandoning their discussion, both males turned toward the channel, their eyes widening in surprise when they saw the small child that stood before the entrance. Feeling, as well as seeing the mixed reactions to her presence, the girl executed a respectful bow in the traveler’s general direction and said, “Forgive me for not answering your question, but my mistress did not assign me a name.”
“Your… mistress?” Miroku asked, his brow creased in obvious confusion.
His surroundings nearly forgotten, Inuyasha studied the child‘s appearance intently. Long, wavy dark tresses spilled freely down her back as she stood with her little arms tucked into the sleeves of her haori. Aside from the less conventional black hakama, she was dressed in the preferred attire of a Shinto priestess, her tiny form held in place by small, inwardly-pointed, sandaled feet.
‘She looks just like…’
“Kagome-sama…” the girl unknowingly finished his thought for him. “She sent me to find you.”
“Is that so?” the monk asked contemplatively. “Forgive me if I seem reluctant to take your word at face value, but how can we be certain you are telling us the truth?”
As if she had anticipated that very question, the girl smiled and nodded before allowing her arms to unfold. She was watched with caution as she slowly approached, her right hand held out in front of her. The tiny appendage was fisted, keeping them from seeing what was concealed within until she entered the circle of light cast off by Kirara. Lowering his sword, Inuyasha watched as the child uncurled her hand to reveal Kagome’s portion of his rosary. __________________________________________________________________ ______
The excitement of their accomplishment fading quickly from her mind, Kagome stared at the intense, but unreadable expression that was currently fixed upon her. Lips parting to question her companion, the miko instantly silenced when a single arm rose from the water. She watched with interest as the trails of water fell from the uplifted appendage, the sound of dripping water the only sound her human ears could hear.
Faintly amused by the bewildered expression she wore, Sesshoumaru said nothing as he lifted his hand to her face. Using the pad of his thumb, he carefully brushed away a tiny rivulet of blood before it could drip into her eye.
Her brow crinkled in the smallest of frowns but she voiced no complaints of either pain or his touch. Mimicking his movement, Kagome brushed the tips of her fingers across the place he’d touched before inspecting them for residual blood. She was only slightly surprised to find just a trace amount of red mixed in with the water that had escaped her bangs to drizzle down her forehead. Only then did she recall being pelted by a piece of rock before she was swept out of the underwater channel.
“It hurts?” she heard the inu lord ask and she discarded her train of thought in favor of looking up at him.
“No…” she said quietly, “Not really.”
Giving a slight nod, Sesshoumaru said nothing further before he began to swim, taking them both to the edge of the pool. He then released the miko and watched as she pulled herself from the water. Seconds later, he too exited the pool and began to wring the water from his long hair. Kagome thought to do the same but became distracted by her occupied left hand.
‘The first key…’ she thought again, a small smile curving her lips.
“Well,” she said aloud, “That’s one down and three to go.” Looking up at the daiyoukai her smile broadened. “I never would have been able to get it if you hadn’t helped me. Thank you Sesshoumaru.” she said appreciatively and without considering their meager state of dress, the miko reached forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Surprised by the impromptu show of gratitude, the inu lord paused to look down at her.
Only when her cheek pressed against Sesshoumaru’s bare chest did Kagome realize what she had done. Embarrassed but refusing to show it, the miko ignored both her intrusion of his personal space and the fact that he was not returning her sudden display of affection.
When her blush faded to a level she deemed manageable, the miko’s hold began to loosen as she prepared to back away. Though she had felt the circle of his embrace before, Kagome was surprised when his arms wrapped around her, halting her retreat. Suddenly awash with an odd combination of contentment, giddiness and something a bit less innocent, she could do nothing but smile and return her arms to their previous position around his waist.
They stayed like that for several seconds before the young miko loosened her hold again to look up at him. Gracing him with a smile in the rapidly darkening cave she told him, “I’m glad you decided to come with me.”
“As am I.” he admitted to her surprise and before she could pull further away, his arms tightened around her. She felt her heart rate increase as his head slowly descended toward her. Wide brown eyes stared up at him as the scant distance between them was devoured by his steady approach and with the comprehension of his intent came the soft, languorous press of his lips against hers.
Gasping quietly against his lips, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut while her hands curled into tight fists. Her spine initially stiff with shock, her body eventually calmed while her mind began to race. Why was he kissing her this time?! The last time, she had assumed he had just done it to silence her rambling, but this time…
The miko’s thoughts came to an immediate halt when she felt Sesshoumaru draw her lower lip into his mouth. A small, involuntary moan escaped her as the tip of his tongue dragged slowly across the sensitive flesh. Nervous, but enjoying the simmering heat that was rising up to surround them, Kagome flattened her hand against his chest. Without thinking to do so, she spread her fingers across his warming skin, her little finger inadvertently brushing against his nipple.
This time it was Sesshoumaru who gasped and to the miko’s further surprise, he suddenly pulled away to look at her.
Withdrawing her hand swiftly, she curled her offending appendage against her own heaving bosom. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered nervously, “I-I didn’t mean to do that!”
The daiyoukai said nothing, his piercing eyes boring into her and increasing her nervousness one hundred fold.
“Umm… we… we should probably get dressed.” the miko said breathlessly.
Instead of turning away to follow her suggestion as she had expected, the demon lord retrieved her hand. Lost in his intense, unreadable eyes, she hardly noticed the movements of his fingers as they gently unfolded her hand. Then, moving very, very slowly, he placed her hand back on his chest, this time with her palm coming to rest against the now hardened flesh of his nipple.
He continued to watch her, interested to see how she would react and if she would pull away from him as she had done before. Lowering her gaze, the miko looked first at his clawed fingers which were still wrapped around her wrist, then at her hand which was again splayed over his chest.
His skin was still damp, but surprisingly warm. If she concentrated hard enough, she was sure she could feel his heartbeat through the taut layer of muscle and silken flesh.
Almost of its own accord, her hand began to move. Sesshoumaru continued to survey her reactions as her palm glided over his chest. Though his fingers still circled her wrist, he allowed her freedom of movement in her tentative exploration.
Barely aware of what she was doing, and the heat she was stirring within the male that stood before her, Kagome watched her hand with detached interest. Slowly, her palm moved from right to left and then back again. Her fingers again brushed delicately over the budded flesh of his nipple and she noticed how his muscles seemed to tremble in reaction to her touch.
A small, bashful smile tilted the edges of her lips, her mind finally clearing enough to realize that she was essentially feeling up the most deadly youkai in the land.
‘Well,’ she thought, as her hand continued to roam, ‘He doesn’t seem to be complaining about it. Besides, he feels… nice.’
Peaking up at him through her lashes, the breath was stolen from her lungs, her hand instantly ceasing its movements as she took in the searing look in his eyes. Caught in the inferno his golden gaze invoked, the young priestess dared not move another muscle. The decision of what to do next was stolen from her as the inu lord again captured her lips in an all consuming kiss. Unlike the first time, this one spoke of fervor and urgency.
His heated breath brushed against her upper lip as his arms tightened around her, lifting her from the cave floor. Attempting to catch her breath, Kagome parted her lips and managed to suck in a deep breath before his tongue brushed against her own. Drawn to the allure of this new intimacy between them, the miko cautiously replicated the movement of his lips and tongue. Exhilaration rushed through her veins and even though something at the back of her mind suggested that they should stop, the young priestess offered no resistance as her right thigh was lifted and brought to rest over his left hip.
The feel of his damp fundoshi against her skin held her attention for only a moment before his splayed hand slid further up her thigh. The need to breath asserting itself once more, she tore away from his lips, her head lolling back as she attempted to draw oxygen back into her body.
For his part, Sesshoumaru took this as an invitation and latched onto the delicate skin of her neck. The dangerous tips of his fangs dragged across her now heated skin before his tongue soothed the tingling trails. He felt her start to tremble and knowing it was not from cold, a small smirk formed on his lips. Nudging her jaw with the tip of his nose, he encouraged her to tilt her head further and allow him better access. Then, starting from her collarbone, he began planting searing, open mouthed kisses from her collarbone, to just below her ear.
Her glazed, half lidded eyes staring up at the dark ceiling of the cave, Kagome felt his every movement, from the slow press of his lips against her neck, to the constant wag of his thumb against her upper thigh and even the splay of his remaining hand against her bare back.
‘What are we doing?’ she wondered detachedly. ‘Should I really be letting this happen? Do I want this to happen?’
While the young priestess remained undecided as to how far she was willing to go, Sesshoumaru’s intentions were far less ambiguous. Without turning his attention away from her, he used one hand to cup her bottom and, ignoring her gasp of surprise, he stretched his remaining arm out in front of him to a place she could not see. Within seconds he had summoned his pelt. Under the command of his youki, the thick fur sprawled at his feet before bending back and forth against itself to create a makeshift futon.
He pressed a final kiss just beneath her jaw line before he kneeled and placed her upon the pelt. Swallowing in spite of how dry her throat was, Kagome stared up as one of the demon’s knees came to rest between her parted legs.
A frantic part of her mind was screaming at her, telling her to SAY something before it was too late. It kept reminding her that she was dangerously close to loosing her virginity right now and asking if that was something she really wanted to do at this precise moment in time. It implored her to consider the consequences that might follow this encounter and begged that she take a moment to think things through.
But thinking was difficult when smoldering heat flooded her veins and the ravenous ache that had awakened low in her belly, recklessly insisted that she throw caution to the wind and keep her big mouth shut, unless it was to suck on Sesshoumaru’s earlobe.
Finally, her lips parted but the only thing she could think to say was, “Your fur’s gonna get all wet… m-my hair…”
As if to prove her point, she ran her fingers through the still sopping tresses before releasing them to plop heavily against her back.
He stared at her for what seemed like a long time before his lips quirked in a tiny, lopsided smirk. “It is a sacrifice I am willing to make.” he drawled quietly, the slight rasp of his voice charging the air between them and weakening the miko’s already half-hearted resolve to resist his advances.
Her eyes widened as he again moved toward her, the heat of his body enveloping her as his knees pushed her legs further and further apart. Her breathing coming in increasingly swift, shallow pants, Kagome didn’t notice the movement of his hand until it flattened against her belly. The daiyoukai gave an assertive push and the miko found herself laying flat on her back with an obviously aroused demon lord hovering over her.
She only caught a glimpse of his tented fundoshi before he leaned in to press his lips to the upper portion of her neck, but it was more than enough to send her heart racing. Torn between her mind’s insistence that she push him away and her body’s desire to pull him even closer, Kagome settled for placing a hand on either side of him and allowed her palms to rest against his ribs. Though a big part of her wanted this, really, really wanted this, the more logical part of her brain knew that now was not the time, knew that if she was to escape the heartache she had endured with Inuyasha, some things would have to be established between them first.
Just when she thought she had found her voice, Sesshoumaru bit down on her neck stealing a loud gasp from the bemused miko. Though it was not painful, it sparked something within her and the simmering heat in her belly erupted into a blazing inferno. Her nails convulsively digging into his sides, she arched her back inadvertently pressing her breast into his chest.
A growl, low and dangerous was felt more than heard and while it should have frightened the little miko, it did nothing but fan the already consuming flames. Her indecision melted away as one of his hands smoothed up her side, his thumb brushing against the side of her breast. He pulled away from her neck and like she had done earlier, soon became lost in the movement of his hand across her body. His palm slid up and over the swell of her breast, and though the soft mound of flesh was still clothed a hardened nipple did not escape his notice.
Carefully, so that his claws did not damage her flesh, he tucked a finger beneath the material and pulled it down. Kagome gritted her teeth as she looked up at him, and saw that his gaze was now fixed on the breast he had just exposed. She wondered what he would do next, but the answer came swiftly as he leaned in and drew her hypersensitive nipple into his mouth. Unprepared for the pleasure that came when he began a gentle, teasing massage with his tongue, a needy moan spilled from her lips.
He hooked one arm beneath her, his fingers gripping her shoulder as if attempting to prevent her escape while he used the claws of his remaining hand to trail lightly over her ribs and across her stomach.
“Ah…! Sess…” she breathed as she arched into his touch. “What… what are you doing to me…?”
Her body was on fire, yet she could only crave more as his hand moved further down her abdomen. His fingers soon found the elastic band of her panties, and he traced it lightly before dipping his fingers inside.
“Sess… Sesshoumaru…” she panted as his unyielding digits slipped through the short, damp hairs of her nether regions.
He gave no sign that he heard her and his middle finger parted her lower lips quickly locating the inflamed bundle of nerves that hid within. He began a torturously slow massage, and the trembling miko cried out in pleasure while her fingernails convulsively bit into his skin. With the beaconing scent of her arousal, the movements of both his fingers and tongue became more insistent.
Through the calls of her body, and the sinfully sweet sensations the demon lord was causing, Kagome could feel something else, something urgent that meant they needed to stop right now!
Gasping, though from his touch or realization she could not tell, Kagome attempted to get his attention again. “Sesshoumaru,” she called, her voice urgent but clouded with unspent desire. “We… we need to stop…”
He finally pulled away from her breast, the sound of breaking suction meeting her ears before he placed a wet kiss on her belly. “This Sesshoumaru,” he trailed off before kissing her again, “…reserves the right,” he paused and dragged his tongue across the same spot, “…to disagree.”
“No,” she insisted, “We… Ah! Could you stop doing that for just a second?!” He didn’t, but she managed to press on anyway.
“It’s the shikigami!” she said quickly as she wrapped her hand around his arm and gave a light tug. “I can sense her… she must have found Inuyasha and the others!”
Though reluctant to do so, he finally stopped his delicious, torturous massage and looked down at her. “How close are they?”
Though her body still hummed with the accumulated desire caused by his touch, she managed to focus long enough to give an answer she felt was accurate. “They… they should be here in a few minutes.”
Needing a more specific answer he asked, “What do you mean by ‘a few minutes?’”
“I can’t say for sure… ten minutes… maybe less.”
The daiyoukai’s eyes narrowed, his lips thinning to a fine line. Ten minutes was not nearly enough time for what he wanted to do. Repressing a growl at his brother’s horrific timing, he silently vowed retribution before pushing up to sit on his heels. The miko gave him an apologetic look before she scampered away to collect her clothing. Then, sighing quietly he resigned to the fact that he would not have the priestess this night. On the plus side however, he had discovered her willingness to accept him as a lover as well as a friend.
He could only hope they would be granted another opportunity to be alone together… soon. __________________________________________________________________ ___