InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Youkai Desires ❯ Chapter 1

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

When he was younger, and somewhat more foolish, people often said that he was too curious for his own good. A hanyou should know his place, the humans told him. Inuyasha no longer gave a damn what humans thought; he didn't care for them and they didn't care for him. It was better to alone than to be hated.

So he said he didn't give a damn about humans anymore and kept his ass to the forest. It didn't ease his loneliness and he already knew better than to approach a youkai. Humans would yell and throw things at him; youkai went right for his throat. Lower demons saw him as prey, a lone, young hanyou, unprotected. More advanced demons just smiled and drew their swords. He was dirt and only worthy of killing.

Inuyasha sighed and slipped down from a tree to wander in the forest. Sometimes he snuck close to human travelers, just to hear their voices. He hoped that the sound of conversation would comfort him, but it often had the opposite effect. He would slink away from them like the cur that he was, leaving with the feeling that he was more alone than ever. He was too young, but he'd already been on his own for a few years. His mother had died when he was six, he'd run away from her family, his family, when he was eleven. Now, barely fifteen, he wondered if he'd ever find a place to call his home.

Or a wife. No human girl would look twice at him, if she did her family and village would shun her, even kill her.

Get away from my daughter!

Dirty half breed! Go back to the forest where you belong!

He was hungry, but he was used to that. Sometimes it was hard to find food, in the lean winter months it was all he could do to keep himself warm and fed. He usually didn't do very well at either. Inuyasha was used to hardship, to deprivation. He could stand pain, cold, even starvation. But the loneliness, he hated it more than anything.

Angry with himself, the young hanyou shook his head. He had no time for self pity, no business feeling sorry for himself. To wallow in his emotional need could mean his death and despite the unpleasant circumstances of his life, Inuyasha was a far cry from giving up. He intended to survive, just to spite them all.

Not far from here was a hot spring that ran over a pleasantly deep stream, a comfortable place to soak and while away the lonely hours of his day. He might be dirt in the eyes of some, but his mother had raised him to be clean. Only an animal liked to live in filth. Inuyasha owned nothing but the clothing on his back, his only inheritance from the father he'd never known. He could still remember when he was just a young child, watching his mother as she lovingly sewed his clothing from the remains of a firerat fur cloak.

She told him that his father had placed the cloak over her shoulders as she ran for her life, running away from the burning castle that had been her prison. Other than that, she never told him much about how his father had died. He only knew that the powerful taiyoukai had sacrificed himself so that they would live. It was a hard burden to bear, but his father's sacrifice was reason enough for him to try to survive.

Distracted by his melancholy mood, Inuyasha stopped when he heard the sound of gentle splashing and his first thought was one of irritation. Someone else had found his spring, his favorite place for relaxation and comfort. It made him angry, even the forest wasn't his alone. He considered leaving then, not bothering to look and see who was bathing. It wasn't his business and it wasn't wise to intrude. Humans or demons wouldn't welcome him, so what was the point?

Still, he was curious. This part of the forest was remote, far from the well used paths that travelers frequented. Even other youkai weren't likely to find him here; that was part of the reason he liked this place. Curiosity weighed against prudence and as usual, curiosity won. Inuyasha crept quietly through the brush to spy on the one who had invaded his sanctuary.

It was a woman, he realized, a woman was in his spring. Through the leaves he could glimpse the shape of her, her shadow as she floated lazily in the warm current. His eyes grew wide and Inuyasha sat very still, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

Soft looking flesh bobbed to the surface, teasing him as glints of sunlight reflected on droplets of water. His mouth was dry; it was the first time he'd ever seen a female like this. Village women tended to bathe in groups, their bodies covered modestly from the light of day. He was awestruck by this woman's freedom, the way she lounged in the water as comfortable as if she were in her own private bath.

He inched closer, wanting to see more. Inuyasha found he was in luck, for the woman at that moment decided to stand. Water streamed from skin the color of honey; long, graceful limbs stretched lazily, displaying herself for him. Awe was too petty of a word for what he felt when he looked at her. She was nothing less than a goddess, a mythical forest creature that was said to blind mortals with her beauty. Inuyasha silently blessed his youkai blood if that were the case. He would not like to be struck blind at the moment.

Even if it was worth it.

A strange warmth began to flood his body as he watched. The woman used her fingers to comb out her long hair, dry it would be an unusual shade of molten gold, but wet it darkened and glistened and fell over her breasts in long, silky tendrils. Her skin looked like wet silk, every delicate, elegant muscle sheathed in velvety perfection. Her face was that of an celestial being, her body spoke of earthly beauty. She had full lips that seemed meant to tease smiles from others and eyes of the darkest blue.

She was the most beautiful thing that he'd ever seen, the first naked female he'd ever had the chance to look upon. Even as a small boy, he and his mother had been shunned, forced to bathe away from the others of their village. Without realizing it, his hand had dropped between his legs to find a growing stiffness. He was familiar with that; the needs of his body were no mystery to him and Inuyasha had long ago learned to relieve himself when the urges in his blood tormented him.

What he felt now wasn't torment, he didn't feel the kind of frustration he usually felt when he needed to use his hand. Those quick and shameful moments were filled with loneliness and an ache of need. The feelings he had now were pleasurable and he slowly began to stroke himself as he watched her.

The woman's head came up, looking around her as if she suspected she was not alone. Inuyasha remained quiet as a mouse but his hand couldn't stop itself as she slowly drew herself out of the water. He gasped as her hips were exposed, luscious curves that told him everything he'd ever wanted to know about a female. Her waist was as slender as a young sapling, supporting a torso that was graced with full, perfect breasts. He'd never known women looked like that under their clothing. Even his own mother, who had been as lovely as the dawn, paled in comparison to the vision that was gracefully emerging from the water.

Her hips were a womanly cradle, begging a man's hands to caress them. Her legs were muscular, slightly heavier in the thighs than he would have expected from such a lithe and gracious creature. Between those thighs was a nest of dark, golden curls. Inuyasha's breath became short as she stood naked upon the bank, slender feet stepping as delicately as young doe as she made her way to the small bundle of clothing and armor that were neatly arranged on the bank.

Armor?

He never even saw it coming. Suddenly Inuyasha found himself flat on his back, a sword pressed against his throat. The hand that held the sharp katana was delicate, attached to an arm that was steady and strong despite being elegant and shapely. He dragged his eyes from her naked body and met a gaze that was filled with amused condescension.

"Well, what do we have here?" the female murmured, a faint and wry smile on her full lips. "A voyeur?"

He couldn't answer, but silently cursed himself for being so stupid. With her exotic coloring, why hadn't he considered that she might be youkai? He wanted to stammer out an apology for the rudeness of spying on her, but he couldn't make his lips form the words. The sharp edge bit into the soft skin just below his jaw and Inuyasha smelled his own blood.

"Forgive me," he whispered.

The woman laughed, her voice harsh yet lovely. "And why should I do that, boy? Did you enjoy what you saw? Yes, I can tell that you did."

The blade withdrew and the woman turned away, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Be off with you," she advised, a merry hint in her voice. "I don't kill kill children, even half breeds."

Unconsciously, his hands balled into fists. "I'm not a child," he snarled.

She ignored him, picking up a delicate silk kosode and slipping it over her shoulders. "You? You are hardly more than a boy and not worth my time. I'm feeling merciful today otherwise I'd strike you down just for your impudence. If you were only a human, I'd have already taken your head."

He found he was angry, furious that this desirable woman didn't even find him worthy of killing. She didn't even find him a threat, turning her back to him dismissively as she dressed. Inuyasha slowly got to his feet, instincts warring with good sense. He might be only a hanyou, but he knew enough about how demons mated. In order to impress her, he would have to show her that he wasn't weak.

Her back was turned to him, ordinarily he'd never attack an enemy from behind. But this wasn't an enemy, at least that wasn't what he wanted her to be. With a soft growl, he flung himself at her, arms outstretched to overpower her. So what if he was only a half demon, he was stronger than he looked, stronger than she'd expect. His arms clamped hard around hers, hauling her back.

"See," he hissed in her ear. "I'm not just a child."

"I see," she murmured. "But you are a fool."

What exactly happened next, he couldn't be sure. The woman elegantly removed his hands from her person and caught him in the jaw with a dainty, yet rock hard fist. A few quick blows and he staggered back. He couldn't even see her move, just followed the dancing line of her shape as his head was rocked back again and again.

Inuyasha lunged at her, slow, clumsily slow compared to her lightning fast movements. Claws raked down his chest and he whirled around as the woman sprang into the trees.

"Poor little hanyou," she mocked. "Did you think you could take me? You'll have to do better than that!"

He crouched warily, waiting for her next move. It would come from above, he decided, scanning the trees for the flash of silk and golden skin. Silence greeted him, eerily quiet, not even the sound of birds. His blood was rushing in his veins, not only from the fight. She'd been so light, so soft in his arms. It was worth getting killed over, to taste that body with his hands.

A hard kick from behind stunned him, taking him in the middle of the back and sending him sprawling. Before he could react, the woman was on him, her fists hammering his face until he tasted his own blood. He tried to fend her off but she was too fast, too agile. She controlled him easily, playing with him, and her claws stung his skin and scratched his chest, tearing through his clothing like it was made of nothing but paper.

He tried to throw her off then, sensing that he was only moments away from being killed. But the woman anticipated his next move and rammed her knee into his stomach before flipping him over. Clawed fingers grabbed the back of his hair and wrenched his head back and he felt razor sharp tips at his throat.

"Such a pity," she whispered. "So young and so stupid. Yet, somehow you remind me of someone I used to know. All arrogance and bluster, but you haven't reached the kind of power you'd need to defeat me. Give me your name before I take your life. I'll see to it that your kin know of your death at my hands."

Beaten and hating it, he dug his claws into the ground. He wouldn't beg for his life, he knew better than to expect mercy from a youkai. "Inuyasha," he snarled his own name like a curse. "I have no kin."

She hesitated, her hand still holding his hair. "Ah," she said, sounding bemused. "I should have known, it seems I've been away from these lands for far too long. I smelled that you were a half breed, but I never thought..."

"What?" he demanded, trying to twist enough that he could get one last look at her. The woman's thighs were like steel, holding him down and suddenly her grip eased and the claws were taken from his throat.

"I have defeated you," she said, almost gloating. "That would just kill him, to know that I defeated his son. I should have recognized you as the son of Inutaisho when I saw your hair and eyes, child. Although I don't think your father would be proud to claim you after being beaten so easily."

Inuyasha snarled a curse under his breath and froze when the woman leaned forward, pressing against him. He felt a tongue on the back of one of his ears and his eyes went wide. She was going to kill him, he already knew that. The woman's breath was hot in his ear.

"On the other hand," she whispered, her tongue making dainty jabs at the inside of his ear. "It would be a pity for you to die like this, helpless as a pup." A sharp fang grazed his left ear before he felt her lips suck the delicate skin between them. "Yes, a pity."

"What are you doing?" he asked, his heart hammering in his chest. She paused and then bit down hard enough to draw blood.

"I'm doing as I wish," she said, her voice light and sensuous. "As I always have done. Even your father never controlled me, oh he tried, hanyou. He did try."

Her hands ran down his back, exploring him. Inuyasha flinched when one of those hands caressed his ass, cupping the flesh and kneading it rather harshly. She continued to suck and nip at his ear, not at all unpleasantly, he decided. She dug her claws into him as a warning before easing back.

"Turn over," she ordered. "Lie on your back and do not move unless I tell you. Make no mistake, I will not hesitate to kill you if you do not obey."

He really had no choice. Inuyasha slowly turned, rolling between her thighs as she still straddled him. "Keep your hands still, hanyou," she said as he started to bring his arms down. "As I said, make no move unless I say."

Inuyasha hated being helpless, lying on his back now with his throat exposed and his arms still above his head. "What are you going to do to me?" he asked, fearful of her now. The woman's eyes had a strange gleam, her mouth curved in a pleased line.

"Just be quiet," she answered, reached to untie his haori. "As you are the son of my most favorite enemy, I'm not going to kill you. Unless you make me angry. You do want to live, do you not, Inuyasha?"

He didn't answer as she opened his clothing and exposed his chest. He couldn't take his eyes off her, she was still wearing only her kosode and it was open. Her ripe breasts were only inches from him, he longed to reach for them. But he kept his hands still and didn't protest, had no reason to, as she looked down at him.

The woman smiled faintly, tracing his chest with her claws. "You are rather beautiful," she commented. "Then again, why not? Even for a human, your mother was quite lovely."

"You knew my mother?" he blurted, forgetting her instruction to stay quiet. The demon woman smiled and Inuyasha yelped when she raked her claws down his chest, drawing blood. He stared as she raised a bloody finger to her lips and slowly sucked it.

"I knew her," she said quietly. "I introduced her to your father, child. In a way, you have me to thank for your existence. Inutaisho never would have looked twice at a mortal otherwise. But when I told him of fair flower of a girl, with lips as sweet as honey, he couldn't resist. He was always a fool when it came to beauty."

She leaned close to him and started to lick tenderly at the bloody scratches she'd made. Inuyasha shivered at the sensation, enjoying it as she traced his body with her hands. "Such a sweet girl, she was," the woman continued, her tongue prodding one of his nipples to a stiff point. "So giving, so accepting. She gave herself to us, to beautiful youkai she said. Of course she had no chance to resist. Just like you have no choice now."

"You're lying," he muttered, looking away from her as his face flushed. "My mother would never..."

Her claws gouged him and he almost cried out. "The next time you call me a liar, boy," she said harshly, "I will kill you without a second thought. Your mother submitted to us, let us both enjoy her on more than one occasion. She ran away from her family to follow your father and I as we traveled together."

The woman grinned, leaning close to his face. "Does it surprise you that your mother was a whore for demons?"

"Get off me," he snarled, twisting in her grasp. Damned if she was a beautiful woman, he was going to kill her for insulting his mother. His mother hadn't been a whore, she had loved him, loved his father!

Hard hands held him down. "Oh, angry now? That's good, fight me if you can, son of my lovers."

Inuyasha struggled then, fighting to push her away. She growled, enjoying her greater youkai strength. "Your mother's blood makes you weak!"

"I am not weak," Inuyasha shouted and hit her in the face. She snarled and pounced on him, slapping him hard.

"You are weaker than I, child," she said triumphantly. "Fight harder if you can!"

They rolled on the ground, wrestling. Here Inuyasha found an advantage in his slightly larger, heavier frame. She grappled with him happily, using her agility and her long, slim legs for leverage. Finally, Inuyasha managed to pin her on her back.

"Still think I'm weak?" he asked, growling menacingly.

She grinned at him mockingly. "I could easily kill you even now."

It was probably true, he thought sullenly. Still, if he was going to die anyway, he couldn't see the harm in it. Quickly, before she could tear his throat out for the attempt, Inuyasha dropped his face down to hers and covered her mouth in a bruising kiss.

Her reaction was immediate and violent. Inuyasha found himself flung away from her with a burst of pure youki. Stunned from her power, he was helpless now, lying flat on his back and staring at the sky. So this was how he'd die, at the hands of a woman. A powerful youkai, but still a beautiful woman.

Claws dug into his throat, her other hand buried itself in his hair. "You impudent little brat," she snarled, anger making her eyes flash. "How dare you kiss me?"

"You were going to kill me anyway," he muttered, still staring up at the sky. It was blue and peaceful and perfect. Any minute now he'd feel those sharp claws rip into him, smell his own blood as it poured from a gaping wound. He didn't want to die, not yet, not when he was still so young. Not when he'd never even...

She laughed again, harsh and bitter. "I will give you this, Inuyasha, son of Inutaisho," she sneered. "You have your father's boldness, as well as his appearance. I wonder..." her voice trailed off thoughtfully and her weight shifted on top of him.

Inuyasha's mouth dropped open slightly as she shrugged out of her kosode, the triumphant, mocking grin firmly in place. She settled back and reached for his hands, placing them upon her breasts as her hips rocked against his. His mouth went dry, shocked, and his hands closed eagerly upon her soft flesh.

"We will see if you've inherited anything else from your father," she told him, her eyes burning with a new, strange light. She dragged her palms down his chest again, digging her claws into his belly hard enough to make him flinch. "As I said, it would be a pity for you to die like this."

His breath came in short pants, sounding harsh even to his own ears. The woman closed her eyes as she continued to rock against him, deliberately rubbing herself over his cock. He went hard immediately, painfully, and continued to knead her flesh with an avid desire. Her nipples were hard pebbles between his fingers and he pulled and pinched at them, aching to get his mouth up to suck on her dusky flesh.

"That's good," she whispered, sliding her hands between her legs. "Even with that mortal blood, one might think you have the instincts of a true demon. Tell me, young hanyou, do you desire me? Do you want to surpass your father, even like this?"

"Fuck," he whispered, entranced by her undulating form. She was beautiful, she was deathly, she was utterly and completely ruthless and he realized she'd intended this from the start. The fight had been foreplay, her anger over his impulsive kiss had been that he dared to initiate it. The woman licked her lips and stared down at him, watching as his face flushed and Inuyasha let out a ragged moan of want.

"Responsive," she murmured, grinding herself down on him. "And like your father, even when faced with death you think you want to rut. Do you want to know how many times we fought like this, how many times I'd let him think he won just so we could get to what we both really wanted?"

"I don't want to talk about my father," Inuyasha said, trying to lift his hips to meet hers. Gods, he was suffering, with his whole being he only wanted to rip off the hakama that was keeping him from this wild, naked creature. She was pure desire, she was lust and sex given a physical form. He wanted her, he didn't even care if she killed him after, just to have her would be enough.

"Slow down," she advised as he continued to grip her breasts almost painfully. Inuyasha just growled, trying to drive himself through the restraint of his clothing. He wanted inside her, he wanted to feel her, he was going to burst and die if he didn't get relief.

A hard blow to his face shook him out of his lust induced trance. "I said slow down," she hissed, leaning forward to plant her fists on either side of his head. "You will do as I say, do you understand?"

"Yes," he whispered. He'd agree to just about anything right now. If she wanted to cut him into little pieces, that would be fine with him. Anything to stop this aching desire.

"Good," she purred, leaning down to him and ran her tongue in a long, slow lick over his lips. His mouth opened under hers and she kissed him, prodding him with her fangs as they scraped against his. She growled low in her throat and devoured him, invading him while the blood rushed in his veins and he felt weak from her taste.

"Now," she muttered, dragging her lips away from him. "You belong to me. I defeated you in battle, I will take what I want. And I will take his son now."

Inuyasha moaned as her hot mouth traveled down his chest, nipping and biting. His hands curled into fists, digging into the soft ground until they were filled with earth. He couldn't breathe as she suddenly pulled his hakama down his hips, exposing him to the cool air. He gasped and then cried out when her mouth engulfed him, pulling his rigid cock between her lips. She sucked at him hungrily, demanding, leaving him no room for thought. He twitched and twisted under her, the woman's hands grasped his hips harshly as she worked him, biting and flicking him relentlessly with her tongue.

"Fuck," he swore again, feeling himself building to a spectacular release. His body lifted on its own, trying to drive himself deep into her throat while she growled and rumbled pleasurably around his unbearably stiff erection. He almost cried when she suddenly released him, moments from climax and he hated her.

The woman ran her hands over his chest and smiled. "I like eager young men," she said, a sly smile crossing her face. "Tell me, young hanyou, are you a virgin?"

He flushed and looked away, not wanting to answer her but her laugh echoed in his ears knowingly.

"I thought so," she said triumphantly, her hands moving to work him vigorously. "Son of Inutaisho, this will be a time you will not soon forget."

Inuyasha gasped as she moved to settle herself upon him, sheathing him in her warm essence and he shuddered as she began to move and burst within her while his vision swam red and shattered in white-hot points of light.

"Very good," she laughed, leaned down to lick his cheek almost affectionately. "But I am not yet satisfied. I hope you don't think that you're finished."

He shook his head and suddenly reached out to seize her hips. "No," he muttered harshly, dragging her to him. "I'm not done."

Her delighted laugh rang out as she pressed close to him. "Good, I intend to find out if you at least have a demon's stamina. Few can match me, and your father was one of the few. I will discover for myself if you are his son in more than just name."

"Shut up," he growled, thrusting his hips against hers, matching her as her pace built slowly. "You talk too much."

"Impudent," she whispered.

The demon woman rode him mercilessly after that, kissing him breathless and hardly saying a word other than soft moans of pleasure. As the day turned into night, Inuyasha started to bless his youkai blood, he was certain she would have killed him if he'd only been mortal. She was relentless and avid, bringing him to crashing climax after climax, sometimes quiet, sometimes snarling like a feral creature. His body began to ache with exertion and finally he decided that if he didn't want to be ravished to exhaustion, she would have to be pleased.

With a growl and a sudden buck of his hips, he threw her off of him, catching her fully by surprise for the first time. Before she could recover, and perhaps tear out his throat for his defiance, he threw himself on top of her and tried his damnedest to drive her into the ground with a savage thrust of his hips.

"Better," she panted and twisted her face away from his, moaning. Inuyasha didn't answer, didn't say a word as her long claws raked him. He could feel the blood oozing down his back, dropping stickily to the ground. His inexperience made him reckless and he bit and tore at her when she eager accepted his rough handling.

The woman locked her legs around his hips, her face glistening with sweat. "Yes," she growled, her eyes flashing red. "I knew you were a demon inside."

Inuyasha didn't reply, it was taking all of his concentration to ignore both the pain of his wounds and the throbbing of his overtaxed body. No doubt about it, she was going to kill him if they kept going like this. "Tell me what to do," he hissed at last, frustrated and desperate for her climax. He'd already come so much his body felt raw, his arms trembled as he held himself above her. If he wasn't young and having his father's stamina, he would have collapsed a long time ago.

The youkai beneath him only snarled and dug her hands into his buttocks, driving him harder. The forest echoed with the sound of flesh meeting flesh, the cries of their violent fucking. She was impossible, he thought, insatiable and mysterious and he had never thought this was how it would happen. His mother had spoke to him of love and gentleness, not the pure ravishment of a youkai's lust.

"Bitch," he snarled as she bit hard into his shoulder. His blood stained her lips and she smiled, her eyes still glazed and he was shocked when she suddenly stuck him hard in the face.

"Calling a woman a bitch while rutting her is unforgivable," she said harshly. "You have a lot to learn, half breed."

Inuyasha sat back and hit her back, just as hard. "You shut up," he yelled, lifting her hips to meet his. Like a writhing, sinuous snake, she wrapped herself around him, sitting up into his lap. Inuyasha moaned suddenly, realizing the shift was going to bring him to climax yet again and after that, there's be nothing left of him.

Then she slowed, pressing his face to her breasts. Her hands stroked him tenderly. "Perhaps I am to blame," she murmured into his ear. "To have used you so roughly was not my intention, your first time should be pleasurable, young hanyou. Especially pleasurable because it is with one such as myself."

He wrapped his arms around her body, taking a breast between his lips. "I can't satisfy you," he whispered, feeling more like a failure. "I am not my father."

Her hands dragged his face up and he was surprised to see tears glistening in her eyes. "No, you are not," she said kindly. "Your father was a man who took his pleasure where he saw fit, he did not think of the satisfaction of his partner. I...often wished that he would have more kindness in him, but it was not his way. Tenderness does not come easily for our kind, Inuyasha."

"Did you love him?" he asked, feeling a tear slip down his cheek. Ridiculous to show weakness before a demon, he berated himself.

The demon woman looked sad and brushed his hair back from his eyes. "Yes," she said quietly. "As did your mother, I believe. Unfortunately, he loved his power more than anything else and did not see what he had. That is why I left him at the end."

"Then he was a fool," Inuyasha whispered. "I never would have let you leave me."

Her eyes widened in shock and her slow movements stilled. "You say such strange things," she murmured wonderingly. "Your mother was like that also. She begged me to take her with me when I left, but I only turned her away. I was angry and forgot my promise to take care of her."

His hands wound in her hair, brushing away the radiant strands that almost glowed by moonlight. "It's not your fault," he said thickly, his voice muffled as he pressed his lips to her skin. "She told me once that she had been in love with a youkai, that was how I was born as I am. I never thought that the demon she spoke of was you."

She trembled, her hips pressing down on his, leaning hard into him. Her body arched suddenly, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she came violently. Inuyasha's vision swam in red and darkness, feeling her body contract around his like a vise. When her lips parted and she cried out a name in her passion, it was not his. Nor was it his father's.

Moments later, they lay on the ground, limbs intertwined. Inuyasha was exhausted, he wondered if he'd ever be able to touch another woman. His body ached but he rested his head trustingly on her chest as she stroked his hair. Delicious lassitude filled him and he knew that once he fell asleep, she would certainly leave him. He would probably never see anything like her again.

"Please tell me your name," he murmured, drifting in her arms.

Her kiss was gentle on his forehead. "It doesn't matter. Without meaning to, you've given me something more than just satisfaction. I understand now that you are your father's son in many ways, but your mother's as well."

For some reason, her kindly meant words shattered him. "I'm nothing but a half demon," he answered, his eyes tightly closed. "I'll never be more than that."

They lay quietly for some time, the demon woman listening to his measured breathing, the young man's exhausted body draped over hers. It must be painful, she decided. To belong to nothing and no one. That was a kind of loneliness she understood, although her solitude was self inflicted. A demon needed no one, nothing, to complete them. She would spare this boy such a life of being an outsider.

She rose and dressed quietly, looking down at the exhausted young hanyou. As she picked up her weapons and prepared to leave, she thought of a solution to his problem and leaned down, her lips brushing his ear to whisper.

"Not far from here, there is a village of humans, Inuyasha. A priestess guards a sacred jewel, one that has the power to grant wishes. If you desire to become a youkai, or to become a human, or if you just grow tired of being alone, that jewel can make it so. You will have to kill the priestess, I fear. She would not help a half breed willingly. But if you do become a demon, find me then. I will show you all the wonders of our world."

*****

She thought about him for most of the day, unusual for her to have let a lover linger in her mind. Her passions were quicksilver and mutable, as restless as her wild youkai heart. Still, she felt another's presence stalking her, one that could be dangerous, and so she drew her sword when he appeared.

"Seshiko," the pale demon said, looking at her with disapproval. "I have heard that you defiled yourself with a worthless half breed."

Her lips curved in a mocking smile, but she didn't lower her sword. "Ever the voyeur, Sessshomaru? What is it to you, why do you care who I take as my lover?"

His eyes darkened slightly in anger. "My father defiled the bloodline in allowing that creature to be born," he hissed. "He should have killed that human wench of yours when he found out that she carried his seed."

Her laugh was light and mocking. "Perhaps. It was in his nature to do so, I have always wondered why he continued to protect her after I left. A mystery, yes? Perhaps by the end of his very long life, even he discovered some sentimental values."

Sesshomaru glared at her. "It's your fault," he sneered at last. "He wanted you to return to him, so he kept the woman as bait. I told him it was useless, I told him that..."

She dropped her sword and reached out to caress his cheek. He didn't flinch away, but his hand came up and covered hers in a tight grip. "You were jealous and unreasonable then, I see that you haven't changed," she mocked him lightly.

"If you needed to satisfy yourself with one of Inutaisho's sons," he said, his tone dark with a mix of hate and desire. "You should have come to me."

Her eyebrow quirked in amusement. "Even now my rejection burns you. I understand how you desire to surpass your father in all ways, Sesshomaru, but your obsession with me is most unbecoming. Even among our people, where morals are defined only by our desires, it is most unnatural."

She pulled away from him, lingering only to brush his lips with a chaste kiss. "When you finally grow past this childish jealousy, perhaps we can have a more appropriate friendship. Until then, do not seek me out. I never told your father of your advances, Sesshomaru. He would have killed you for them."

He watched her walk away, her lithe form disappearing into the mists of the forest. Bitter jealousy of his brother filled him, as jealousy of his father had once done the same. Better if they were both dead, he decided, turning away in a sweep of silk and fur. He had never regretted his father's death, as he had never regretted killing the wench who had born his brother. He refused to share Seshiko with anyone, but one day she would be his and his alone.

"Until then," he murmured, his eyes catching the morning sun. "Mother."