Sneaking a Peek by SunsetMiko

If a Tree Falls in the Forest

Chapter 45 - If a Tree Falls in the Forest...

This was written for Stella's Word Prompt Game, Prompt: Lassitude – (n) A state or feeling of weariness, diminished energy, or listlessness.

Kagome quickly pulled her hands out of Sesshoumaru's and took a step back. She almost instantly found them being held by another in exactly the same way, as Kouga smirked down at her. The miko stared at the hands holding hers. It was amazing how two things that were so similar felt so completely different. When Sesshoumaru had been holding her hands, her heart beat faster and her stomach fluttered with butterflies, but when Kouga did it, she merely felt annoyed.

"How is my beautiful woman today?" he asked.

"Kouga," Kagome started with a sigh, instantly feeling exhausted. She was so tired of saying the same thing over and over again and seeing him seemed to suck the energy right out of her. "I've told you a hundred times, I'm not your woman."

"Of course you are, Kagome," he replied, completely dismissing her statement.

The wolf had stepped right in between the miko and the taiyoukai, ignoring the Western Lord's presence entirely, and failed to notice he was so close that his tail was brushing against Sesshoumaru's armor. He was surprised when heavy hands landed on his shoulders and was even more shocked when he suddenly went flying. The wolf sailed quite a distance, arms and legs flailing. His flight ended rather abruptly when he hit a tree with enough force to break it. His body slid down the tree just in time for the splintered trunk to give, the top half falling and landing on his head with a thud that knocked him unconscious.

When his hands had been ripped from the miko's, his claws had caught her palms. Sesshoumaru was instantly in front of her. He caught her wrists and turned her hands, examining the wounds. He was relieved to find that they were merely shallow scratches and instantly set out to apologize.

"I am sorry you were injured," he said, his guilt obvious in his voice.

"You're not the one that hurt me. They were his claws," she assured him, unused to hearing him use such a tone.

"I should have removed his hands from yours before I removed him from your person entirely."

Kagome laughed at his reasoning. "I know I told you not to kill him."

"He still lives. You did not say that I could not cause him injury." The taiyoukai bent and began licking the wounds on her palms, his gentleness surprising her once more. She still wasn't used to the changes in Sesshoumaru and she seemed to be constantly caught off guard by his behavior. He'd healed her wounds once before after their second chase, but she hadn't expected him to do it again.

Everyone in their group stared on in awed silence as Sesshoumaru licked Kagome's hands. No one had ever expected to see such a thing in all their lives. Inuyasha ached to mock the taiyoukai for his obvious jealousy of the wolf, but he kept his mouth shut, fearing that Kagome would sit him again.

"You didn't have to do that to him," Kagome scolded, looking over at the unconscious wolf half-covered by the branches of the fallen tree.

"You clearly rejected his claim and he ignored you. It was dishonorable."

The miko merely smiled. "He's not going to be happy when he wakes up."

"When he wakes, he will deal with me."

Kagome rolled her eyes. Apparently the drama of the day had only just started.