Sneaking a Peek by SunsetMiko

Half-Truths

Chapter 66 - Half-Truths

Basicum - a kiss (Stella's Latin Challenge)

They had snuck away from camp for another heated make-out session, something they'd been doing quite often since Kagome had returned from her time. It was easier that way. Inuyasha knew what they were doing, but he didn't have to see it, so the hanyou wasn't tempted to gag at the couple dramatically. It was saving them all a lot of fighting and Inuyasha a lot of being sat, which he greatly appreciated.

The hanyou was still bothered by their relationship, but now for a different reason. Sesshoumaru still hadn't told Kagome his intentions and Inuyasha could see the sadness in her eyes. She needed to know that the taiyoukai had no intention of leaving her, but he understood his brother's hesitation in confessing his true desires. Kagome probably wasn't ready to hear that he wanted her as his mate. That was a big jump from flirting and kissing, and her heart was still fragile, even more so now that she'd realized her love for Sesshoumaru.

Kagome wanted to guard her heart from the eventual pain of losing the taiyoukai, but she didn't know how. She was enjoying their relationship the way it was, even though she knew it would end at some point. She refused, however, to tell Sesshoumaru how she truly felt. It would only make things more complicated and it might even scare the taiyoukai off. He didn't need to know she loved him, not when she knew he could never love her back. She wasn't even sure if Sesshoumaru was capable of such an emotion. Demons, especially those of his level in society, mated for other reasons, for suitability and politics.

Their kiss was passionate and all-encompassing, and yet Kagome's thoughts snuck into her mind anyway. She couldn't focus on enjoying what they were doing when she ached to whisper her love to the taiyoukai. It was harder than she'd thought to keep it to herself.

Mendacium - lie, falsehood, untruth, counterfeit, fraud (Stella's Latin Challenge)

Sesshoumaru could sense her distraction and pulled back with a sigh. "Kagome, are you all right?" he asked her.

"What? I'm fine, why?" she inquired. She hadn't expected him to pick up on her feelings so easily.

"You seem... detached," the taiyoukai explained. "If you do not want to be doing this, we do not have to." He didn't like the idea of her kissing him if her heart wasn't in it.

"Of course I want to be doing this," she said with a grin. "I wouldn't be here otherwise. I don't usually wander off into the forest with powerful demons," she teased. "Only you." Even her flirtation seemed to be suffering from her conflicting desires, as she couldn't think of anything else to say.

Sesshoumaru held back a sigh. "Kagome, what if I were to tell you I had no intentions of ever leaving you?" he asked her.

"You would be lying to me," she replied. "You can't stay with me forever."

"I certainly can," he disagreed. "There is nowhere else I would rather be than here with you."

"But you're a Lord, Sesshoumaru. You have responsibilities."

"Responsibilities that can wait. I'm not going anywhere. I promise you that. You are the one I desire to be with."

"I wish that could be true," she whispered, pain in her voice.

"Why is it so difficult to believe?" he asked in frustration.

"Because I know better. I know you have to take an inu demoness as your mate. You have to have full-blooded heirs. You can't waste your time playing with a human woman."

"I have no need of a mate," the taiyoukai replied. "I am still young and have centuries before I need to make such a commitment, and even then, it is up to me who I choose to mate. I will not be forced into choosing an inu bitch just because it is what is expected of me."

Sesshoumaru hoped that telling her he had time, that he was in no rush to mate, would ease some of her worries. He also desired to give her some hope by telling her that he would mate whomever he wished. Maybe if that thought was put in her head, she would begin to think that perhaps he would choose her. It was the best he could do without flat out telling her the whole truth, that he fully intended to make the miko his mate and damn the consequences.

"So you want to stay with me while I grow old and die? That won't be any fun either."

"Who said you would grow old?" he asked with a smirk. No, she would not age and die. He would make sure of that.