Sesshomaru walked through the forest near Edo, his senses on high alert. Someone was putting out an incredible amount of energy. It was not Inuyasha, of that he was certain, but he had no idea who it could be. Kikyou’s new body was incapable of producing this kind of power. That left Kagome and Kaede. Of course that was assuming this person actually belonged here. There was every possibility that it was an intruder, which was even more disturbing. As far as he could tell, Inuyasha had not moved from his position in Edo. He wasn’t sure how the hanyou could not sense this.
Pausing he tilted his head and tasted the wind. Truthfully he would much rather be out here trying to solve this mystery than back at his palace. It was September and most of the female youkai had gone into heat. He had no interest in females pressing themselves upon him, begging him to pup them. Most of them would try to exploit him and if, kami forbid, he got one of them pregnant, they would hold the child hostage in order to get their way. All of them were spoiled, entitled whores and he would rather live celibate than bed them.
Of course there was also the fact that he didn’t want any of them. His beast had long ago selected a female and it pained him to know that he could never have her. Kagome was too young at first. Then she was attached to his half-brother. Now she was free of the whelp, but she was human. He could not afford the luxury of a hanyou child, even if it was her hanyou child. Long ago he had come to terms with the fact that he would probably love her for the rest of his life and never once know what it felt like to have that love returned. He would enter into a loveless union, just as his father had. He wondered if he would stray as his father had. Probably not. Kagome would be long dead by then and he could never see himself loving another. He hated these thoughts, but this season always inspired them.
He picked up Kagome’s scent and frowned slightly. It seemed that she was the source of this strange energy. It hadn’t been very long since he had seen the fiery miko. Rin was eleven now and had started turning into a woman. Kagome was the only female he trusted to explain the changes happening to her body. In many ways, she was almost pack. He had always forced himself to keep his distance from her though. More than once he had scented arousal on her when she looked at him, and the smell called to him as it did not for any other female. He followed her scent to a secluded hut deep in the forest. From inside he could hear her whimpering. Was she hurt? He didn’t smell any blood. He opened the door to a strange sight. Kagome as curled in a ball, shaking and crying. Sweat was soaking into her miko robes as she rocked. When he came in she looked over at him and he saw fear on her face.
“Sesshomaru-sama…”
“Miko, what is wrong? Are you injured?”
“No, but you have to leave. Please.”
“Why?”
She shook harder, and groaned softly. “Please leave.”
“Answer me.”
She curled into a tighter ball. “When a miko is powerful, in tune with nature, we can sometimes begin to emulate the species that we associate with.”
“Emulate?”
“Copy.”
“Who are you copying?”
“I assume all the females of your species have begun their heat?”
It struck him suddenly what was happening. She was in the throes of her heat pains. “Why are you here? Surely you can find a male to relieve the pain for you.”
He didn’t mean for it to sound bitter. Surely Inuyasha or the monk had relieved her heat in the past. He wondered if perhaps he had made an effort to befriend her sooner if she would have come to him instead.
“I don’t want that!” She flushed. “Sorry. My temper is a little sort right now.”
“Understandable.”
“I’m a virgin. I don’t intend to just hump some random guy because my hormones are out of balance.”
He heard his beast howl in triumph. “So instead you suffer.”
“This is not my first heat. I doubt it will be my last.”
He couldn’t help but admire her. She was refusing to give in to the baser instincts and instead bore the pain of her heat. Still, the energy she was putting out had called him here from many miles away. She would not be safe if her goal was to keep her virtue intact.
“You are not safe here.”
“Actually I think you’re the one that’s in danger.” She gave him a rather sheepish smile. “I can’t really help what’s happening to me. You should leave before I lose all control of my senses and try to jump you.”
Her arms clutched her stomach as another wave of pain rippled through her. “I sensed you from very far away. You are not safe here.”
“Well then where am I safe?”
He glared at her until she flushed. He did not like her tone. He stepped over to her and she flinched as he scooped her up into his arms. Her arms went around his neck and she immediately pulled them back with a soft apology. He left the hut and tore off through the forest. Years ago he had found the need to create a safe haven within this forest for Rin. That way he could leave her when he went to challenge his half-brother. He reached it in a few minutes. He’d carved the cave himself, using his acid, and he always kept it well stocked. It was set high in a cliff face, making access difficult even for many lesser youkai. He set her down just inside entrance and she fell to her knees.
“There is food and a spring for fresh water. This place is protected so none may enter without my permission. You will be safe here.”
She nodded and slowly climbed to her feet. “Thank you. You don’t have to be so kind to me. I’m truly grateful.”
“It is rare to meet a female that fights the urges of her body. It is to be commended.”
She flushed at this. “Thank you.”
“Your heat will end in a few days. I will return then.”
He was suddenly gone and Kagome felt fear crawl up her throat. The last time she’d gone into heat she could go home and hide away from everyone. Perhaps it was going through the well, but her heat had lasted almost a month. She consoled herself with the knowledge that if Sesshomaru was wrong about when her heat ended, he was more than capable of controlling himself.