InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Enigma of Power ❯ Encounters ( Chapter 2 )

Sesshomaru returned to camp to find Jaken asleep by the fire, and completely alone. He kicked the unfortunate youkai awake.

"Where is Rin?"

The question, though spoke softly, carried all the menace of a typhoon. Jaken shrank from his master. "I sent her to bathe, Sesshomaru-sama, at the hot springs we passed just before making camp."

Sesshomaru did not snarl, nor did he frown. He drew Tokijin and pressed it against the tiny youkai's throat. "Never send her into the forest alone, Jaken, do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly, Sesshomaru-sama."

Sesshomaru sheathed his sword and started through the forest to find Rin. He could scent her easily on the night wind. Moving silently through the still forest he approached the pool from downwind. He heard laughter and splashing, and slipped in close to see that Rin was not alone. A young woman was playing with her in the water. He watched in carefully concealed amusement as the splashed at each other. The woman flipped her hair over her shoulder and Sesshomaru got his first unobstructed look at her. He felt his blood begin to boil. This was Inuyasha's wench. A soft growl started in his chest and traveled up his throat, but never made it past his lips. The wench - what was her name? Kagome? - helped Rin dress then rose from the pool. Sesshomaru felt his breath catch in his throat. The moonlight made her milky white skin glow and her midnight black hair seemed to dance around her deep blue-violet eyes. His eyes lingered on her body and he felt his heart rise into his throat even as his blood flowed into his loins. He shook himself all over, like a dog shedding water. He was hundreds of years old. The sight of a naked human female should not affect him this way, and yet there was something ethereal about her beauty, as though she did not belong to this place.

"I could walk you back, if you want. The woods can be confusing at night."

Sesshomaru made sure his icy mask was unbroken and stepped from the woods. "That will not be necessary."

Rin yipped with joy and ran to him throwing her arms around his knees. He reached down and touched the child's head, his eyes never leaving Kagome. Her face underwent a series of emotions, and, curious, he activated a simple mind reading spell. It was not so powerful as to delve her deepest most personal thoughts, but it was enough to skim the surface thoughts. There was fear, of course, he'd expected that, and also a strange sort of thankfulness, as though some part of her was glad she was going to die, and then there was something deeper and more primal, something that was entirely visceral. He increased the power of the spell wanting to know exactly what she was thinking. Out of the jumble a single thought emerged.

`At least I get to look at the most beautiful man in all of creation while I die. The gods granted me a small mercy there. I just wish he'd stop staring at me and get it over with.'

Sesshomaru patted Rin's head. "Go back to camp and remain there."

Kagome watched the girl go skipping off the way she had come. Sesshomaru stepped closer, looming over her in the darkness. She fought the urge to squeeze her eyes shut and instead met his golden eyed gaze with her own. Sesshomaru reached out and gripped her around the neck.

"You are afraid of me."

"I am."

His lips twitched. "And you readily admit that fear, a commendable virtue." He neither tightened his grip nor released her as his eyes swept her body. "One of many. You were kind to Rin, and for that I will spare you. Know this wench, if you and I cross paths again, I will not be so kind."

He leaned close and she saw his nostrils flare as he took in her scent. His face was so close to hers she could almost brush his lips with her own. His wholly masculine scent, something reminiscent of the cool days of the fall, surrounded her and she felt herself becoming giddy. Sesshomaru almost smiled at the thoughts that filled her head. Of its own accord her mind brought her images of him kissing her, touching her, caressing her. He tried to find Inuyasha somewhere in her jumbled emotions and found only a lingering regret and tiny pang of guilt, all of which was being quickly washed away. His hand shifted on her neck to draw her closer, sliding down her back, caressing her naked skin. His breath caressed her lips. She watched him wide-eyed, both hoping and fearing that he might make real her fantasies. With one last caress along her back he stepped away and vanished into the forest.

Kagome sank to her knees suddenly. Never in all of her life had she experienced something so intense. Sesshomaru watched her as she slipped into the hot springs once more. He turned and began walking through the woods. His tentative mind link told him that she was more worried about what Inuyasha would do if he smelled him on her, than what would happen when next they met. The thought occurred to him that he could use her to win Tetsusaiga from his brother, but he banished this quickly. The only mark on the girl had been a scar on her left hip and he had not smelled Inuyasha in her scent. If something had happened between them, he ought to have been able to smell it, even if it had happened some months ago.

He wasn't sure if she was untouched, he'd only been looking for the one scent, but she had smelled fresh and cool, like the clear mountain air. There had been a hint of something minty about her, hidden beneath the scent her hair and skin had carried from the strange bottles. Yes, he decided, she was a virgin. There was no way any one, human or youkai, could smell that pure without being an innocent.