Prompt:
'Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know.'
Kagome awoke to the sun in her eyes. Squinting, she blinked heavy lashes and turned her face away from the bright rays. As she did, she felt warm flesh against her averted face, a masculine scent invading her nostrils as she took a deep breath. Still groggy, her senses slowly came awake and sent signals to her brain; her front was plastered against something rock hard and warm, her leg thrown over and between hard calves, and her hand rested against a firm chest, a heartbeat thrumming against her palm.
It wasn’t until the hand around her waist tightened, drawing her closer, and fingers brushed her hair out of her face that her eyes blinked open as realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Tilting her head back, she stared into the Inugami’s honeyed eyes and saw deep satisfaction lurking within those inhuman depths as well as renewed lust.
All at once, she stiffened.
What had she done? What in all the kamis’ names had she done yesterday and several times afterwards?! At the time, it had felt like the right thing to do. Her body had been yearning for such intimacies between her and Sesshomaru, and if she was truthful to herself, she had some feelings for this Inugami, despite his past deplorable actions towards her. However, now, in the light of a new day when her emotions and body’s desires weren’t clouding her judgment, regret came swiftly, trying to drag her down with self-recriminations.
“Aijin,” Sesshomaru murmured in a low, husky timbre, reawakening the woman inside her.
However, when he cupped the back of her skull and angled down to kiss her, she panicked. Flailing the best she could while so close to his nude body—and it did not escape her notice that she was likewise unclothed—she tried to push away from him, getting nowhere when his arm tightened around her waist.
“No! Wait, Sesshomaru,” Kagome said frantically, turning her face away from his kiss.
Sesshomaru frowned at her averted face.
“Why?” he asked, lust gripping him, his groin already hardened in eager anticipation. “I want you again,” he murmured wickedly, nuzzling her temple.
When his free hand landed on her upper thigh and began caressing her flesh intimately, she batted his touch away. Again she tried to squirm away from him.
“Because we can’t!” she said desperately, huffing when he refused to let her go.
He scowled at her, though she didn’t see it. Then he grinned, the heat in his gaze intensifying. He grabbed her hand easily and placed her palm over his erection.
“I assure you, we can. Feel me, aijin. Feel what you so effortlessly do to me.”
In answer, she jerked her hand back as if burned, and yet, he caught the tantalizing scent of her growing arousal, barely there but unmistakable.
Kagome shook her head, valiantly ignoring how she instinctively responded to him. She wanted him, too, desperately, like she needed her next breath. This was madness! But she also felt guilt along with her regret.
“I used you…”
God was it hard to admit. She’d felt slighted, cheated because she’d begun to think everyone she once knew and loved secretly felt that she wasn’t worthy of happiness, of…this, what she had done with Sesshomaru. She’d wanted to prove to everyone, especially herself, that she didn’t need anyone’s approval to act on what she wanted.
“Speak plainly,” he commanded her, not understanding.
She couldn’t look at him as she confessed, “I… You know I…desire you, and I knew you wanted me, too, but… I used you, Sesshomaru. I was being selfish and shouldn’t have used you to make a point that I’m not unworthy.”
If she thought her words would tick Sesshomaru off, she was about to be proven wrong. He grinned at her, his eyes full of sexual promise.
“I’m not complaining, aijin.” He moved his lips to her ear, whispering to her. “Use me, brand me with your touch. You desire me, and I desire you. No matter what prompts you to turn to me for gratification, I will not turn you away.”
Instead of encouraging her as his words implied, she continued to shy away from him.
“Yes, I desire you,” she said with an unhappy tone of voice. “But I don’t love you.” And that’s what mattered.
“I do not ask for your love,” he returned, sensually running his tongue around the shell of her ear, making her shiver, and her arousal to spike.
“Be that as it may, this isn’t right. What we did… It was wrong.” Again she tried to push him away.
Now, Sesshomaru was beginning to feel angry. So she regretted what they had done together, did she?
“And yet you still want me. Your body burns for my touch,” he murmured to her, rolling her effortlessly beneath him, pinning her to the ground so she couldn’t possibly get away.
“Don’t deny it,” he continued after her surprised squeak. He buried his face in her neck and forced her legs wide open with his knee, making a place for himself between her thighs. Then he cupped her possessively, her hot core burning his hand and her moisture giving away her growing desire. “You’re already wet for me, and I haven’t even touched you yet.”
“Sesshomaru!” she said in reprimand, but he was through listening to her excuses and kissed her—hard.
When she shoved against his hand, trying to stop him from petting her wet folds, he grabbed her wrists and brought her caged hands above her head, easily restraining her with one large hand wrapped around her tiny wrists. She wanted him; he knew she did. It was only her human sensibilities that were trying to make her regret what they had done together, and he was going to make her realize that.
He thrust two fingers inside her sheath, and Kagome arched into his touch, a cry leaving her mouth, swallowed by his own. He groaned and moved his fingers faster, rubbing the top of her channel where he knew her sweet spot to be, encouraging her to let go of her doubt and give in to her desire.
Kagome stopped trying to deny herself what she desperately wanted. Despite Sesshomaru’s forceful assault on her senses, she knew deep down that if she had really wanted him to stop, he would have. His past actions spoke clearly that he wanted her willing, and kami help her, she was. She’d unwittingly encouraged him in the past, especially that one time when they’d shared a hot spring together, but when she’d called a halt, he’d stopped—if unhappily.
And that was one of the reasons why she was growing more and more attached to him despite knowing how stupid such a thing was. He could be considerate in his own twisted way.
She kissed him back, showing him just how eager she was by swiveling her hips into his thrusting fingers, grinding against him. As she flexed and moved against him, her flat stomach repeatedly brushed against his rock hard abs, her breasts rubbing against the muscle of his chest, and her nipples tightened as they brushed against him. Pleasure swamped her, and now that she knew where these feelings of lust led, she was eager—even desperate—for release, and encouraged Sesshomaru in any way she could for him to continue, to give her more.
When Kagome wrapped her legs around his hips, he seemed to understand her unvoiced acceptance and released her wrists. Instantly, she clawed at his back, and when his mouth left hers to graze his teeth along the column of her throat, she implored him for more with heated whimpers of ‘please’ and calling his name in entreaty.
She was riding the edge of an orgasm when he unexpectedly moved. When his mouth found her clit and suckled on her flesh, her hips would have left the ground had he not settled his forearm over her stomach to keep her in place. With a hoarse cry, her womb contracted, thighs trembling, and body quaking as another mind shattering release took hold of her again. Sesshomaru prolonged her orgasm, thrusting his fingers inside her and continued to use his tongue in wicked swirls and licks, until she couldn’t take it anymore and shoved his head away, panting for much needed air.
When Sesshomaru moved over her again, settling purposefully between her legs, she stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Wait, Sesshomaru.”
He glowered down at her, but he did stop. “Now what? If you think I’m stopping now after you received your pleasure, you’re very mistaken, aijin. When I said you can be selfish, denying me and not yourself is not what I meant.”
“No! That’s not what I meant.” She looked away, blushing fiercely.
“Speak quickly, aijin. My patience grows thin.”
“I just… What you did with your mouth… Forget it. Never mind.”
Grudgingly intrigued, despite his groin clamoring to be encased once again in her moist heat, Sesshomaru wouldn’t allow the subject to be dropped.
“Tell me.” It was a command, his lust making his voice firmer than it might have been at any other time.
Shyly, she met his gaze, her face beet red.
“I was just wondering…if I could do that…for you. Or do women not do such things?” she added the last quickly, inwardly cursing her lack of knowledge when it came to intimacies.
Sesshomaru stiffened, his heart pounding faster at her insinuations. He’d thought he’d have to encourage her at some point for such contact, yet it seemed that she was already thinking along those lines. What was more, she was willing and didn’t need any encouragement from him. His blood heated hotter just imagining her mouth around his aching shaft.
Before she could change her mind, he was rolling onto his back, bringing Kagome with him so that she was the one on top.
“Yes,” he purred at her, stroking her back with both hands. “Whatever you desire, you have just to voice them, aijin. As your body is mine to do with what I will, mine is also yours.”
Kagome only hesitated a moment before she moved on him. Though he was eager for what her words had implied, he didn’t discourage her when she didn’t instantly move down his body and rush her.
As he had done countless of times to her, Kagome’s lips settled along his neck, her tongue tracing the fast beat of his pulse, before suckling against his flesh. He groaned, his hands tightening on her hips, knowing she would leave a mark if briefly, before his body healed. She didn’t seem to be in any hurry as she learned his body with hands and mouth, using his previous actions as her guide. She nipped at his collar bone with her blunt teeth, even swirled her tongue in the hollow of his throat.
Her nail scrapped over his left nipple, hardening the flat disk. Her tongue was a wet glide that sent answering pulses of pleasure to his cock. Though he wanted her to continue downwards, he cupped the back of her head in one hand, encouraging her to linger at his nipple and give him more of that.
“Harder, aijin. Don’t be afraid to use your teeth. Bite me,” he implored heatedly.
Kagome did just that, and he gnashed his teeth audibly, and his hips jerked off the ground this time in growing agitation. His sexual frustration seemed to amuse her, for she giggled and bit him again.
“You find this amusing, do you?” His voice was rougher, more gravely in his need.
“Yes,” she answered, unabashed. “It’s nice to know I can equally affect you as you do me.”
Though she didn’t mean it the way it sounded, Sesshomaru chuckled darkly.
“I plan to ‘do you’ shortly.”
She blushed and quickly ducked her head, biting along his flesh in silent reprimand. His mirth left him on a deep, masculine groan of pleasure when Kagome reached down and grasped the base of his cock in her fist. He shuddered violently when she moved against him, and he reached down to show her exactly how he liked it. A tighter squeeze, a fast pace, and paying close attention to the sensitive head.
Kagome learned quickly, and soon she was stroking him without his aid. However, when she cupped his balls in her other hand, squeezing and fondling him with just the right amount of pressure, he cursed on his next rough exhalation.
Kagome jerked her hands away, glancing up at him with a contrite expression.
“I’m sorry! Did I hurt you—”
“No!” he said quickly, capturing her hand and placing it back on his shaft. “You’re doing everything right,” he rasped.
Kagome gazed at him dubiously for a second, before taking him at his word, but instead of continuing with her ministrations, she moved further down his body, and the closer her mouth got to his erection, the harder he became. And then—finally!—her tongue found him first, swirling around the head, before paying special attention to the slit at the tip.
One of his hands curled in her hair, cupping the back of her skull to keep her there.
“No games, aijin,” he said through clenched teeth, precum slipping out of his shaft only to be licked up by her wicked tongue. “Open your mouth.”
Again she had the audacity to laugh at his torment.
“But I thought you said I could touch you any way I please?”
Her seductive reply surprised him but also enflamed him more, and he forced her head closer to his erect shaft, her lips bumping the head.
“Later,” he replied, his chest heaving, and thrusting his hips towards her in growing impatience to feel her silken mouth wrapped around him.
And when she did, his abs tightened as he forced himself not to thrust into her mouth and hurt her. Not only was he large, Kagome wasn’t accustomed to this sort of thing, and he’d be damned if he made her regret offering and never want to do this again.
Kagome sucked on the head tentatively, prompting him to demand, “Harder, aijin!”
And she did.
Watching her gave him almost as much pleasure as her mouth. Her cheeks hollowed as she sucked him, and when she moved her head up and down along his shaft, taking a couple inches at a time, her hand moved with her mouth stroking and squeezing what she couldn’t fit comfortably in her moist cavern. Wanting a better view, he shoved her hair out of her face and watched, his face flushed and panting for air.
When her teeth grazed against his flesh, probably an accident on her part, it almost sent him over the edge. Not wanting to spend inside her mouth—this time—he forced her off and, and pushed her roughly beneath him, ignoring her surprised exclamation. Mounting her swiftly, he wrapped his hand around the back of one of her thighs and thrust inside her, going balls deep in just one, smooth glide, and they both shouted in pleasure.
He was far from gentle with her, moving at a brutal pace, but Kagome didn’t stop him. Instead, she encouraged him with heated moans and words entreating him to go fast still, harder. He obliged her readily. Even though he had been ready to spend just seconds ago, Sesshomaru rode her for a long time, making her climax again and again before he found his own release.
Not an hour later, after Sesshomaru had taken them to the river to wash up, Kagome’s mood had darkened once again. She had half a mind to yell at him, but she couldn’t. She would either be a hypocrite or lying if she accused him of forcing himself on her when she’d obviously encouraged him to continue. At times like this, she really wanted to get as far away from him as she possibly could and find Kikyo on her own; however, danger was everywhere, and a woman travelling alone was just asking for trouble. The safer choice was to stay with Sesshomaru—for now.
Just as they were about to head off, while Sesshomaru attempted to track down her sister’s scent, the skies opened up and it began to drizzle rain.
“No!” Kagome wailed, glaring up at the sky, though drops of rain stung her eyes. “Not now!”
Why was fate punishing her like this, repeatedly? It wasn’t fair!
“Calm down, aijin,” Sesshomaru told her, seeming unperturbed by this new delay in finding her sister.
“Calm down?” she asked incredulously, gazing at him as if he had lost his mind. “I have to—”
“—find Kikyo. Yes, I know.”
Feeling helpless yet angry, she asked, “Then how will we find her now?”
“If we find the bandits’ main forces, we’ll undoubtedly find her.”
“You know where they are?” she asked hopefully. Perhaps not all was lost after all.
“I do not.” Before his answer could deflate her spirit, he continued. “It seems you’ll be visiting the spirit world after all, but for now, we’ll have to leave off going to my home.”
This news did not encourage her in the slightest, only succeeded to making her trepidation increase.
“Uh, Sesshomaru? Why do we have to—”
He sighed, interrupting her.
“Must you always question me?”
“I wouldn’t have to if you’d just tell me what you have in mind,” she shot back with a scowl.
“Hn.” Sesshomaru lifted a brow in the face of her ire, unperturbed by her annoyance. “Firstly, you need new garments. While we find you more suitable attire, I will inquire about the humans’ whereabouts. I know someone who will undoubtedly have the information we seek.”
Kagome wasn’t sure how she felt about his plans to take her into the spirit world, a place most likely crawling with even more demons than this world. But if she must go, she was sticking beside Sesshomaru and not letting the Inugami out of her sight for even a second.
Saddling closer to him, she stood a little to the side and just behind him as he lifted his hand and made a waving motion. With a flare of power, he easily opened a portal into what she could only guess was the spirit world. At first, the image wavered, then settled, and a bustling market place appeared in the large circle just a couple feet in front of them. No, she did not like this plan at all, and grabbed Sesshomaru’s hand without thinking. After a second’s hesitation, his clawed fingers wrapped around the back of her hand.
“Do not be afraid, Kagome. You will be safe so long as you remain by my side.”
Nodding her head, she swallowed nervously, her eyes glued to the portal. “Right.”
“Come.” And he was pulling her forward, giving her little choice but to obey.
Her hand tightened as she stepped through the portal and glanced behind her to see their way out close up behind them. She sincerely hoped he knew what he was doing and could just as easily open another portal into her world.
Though filled with unease, Kagome couldn’t help but look around with wide eyed curiosity. It seemed like they were in some kind of market place. Sesshomaru easily led them to a walkway lining the many shops on one side of the main street. It didn’t escape her notice that Sesshomaru kept between her and the bustling street. Though Kagome had never been to a large town before, she was almost sure this one would be like any other in her world—save for all the demonic pedestrians milling about. Creepy three eyed vendors screamed their wares, scaly lizards slithered in and out of the shops, creatures with wings either walked on two legs or flew through the air, strange, white robed figures wearing noh masks went through solid object, and so much more. Some demons looked more grotesque then the last her eyes fell on, while some—like Sesshomaru—were beautiful, magnificent creatures. Sometimes she had a hard time telling apart their genders, so femininely ethereal some of the males were.
The air was clear and yet it seemed oppressive to Kagome, filled with demonic energy. Though none attacked her, or hardly even gave her a second glance, she felt threatened, and her reiki felt like it was rising just under the surface of her flesh, itching and rolling about, just waiting to zap any that tried to harm her. It was disconcerting, because her powers had never reacted like this before, and she couldn’t help but worry she’d accidently be the one to start a fight, should her reiki get out of control.
Despite her worry that her powers might go out of control, her eyes continued to wander around, going left, then right, and left again, back and forth. If it wasn’t for Sesshomaru having ahold of her hand to keep her by his side, she probably would have accidently wandered off and been totally and completely lost. There was something else she noticed, more strange than all these demons ignoring a human priestess in their midst when it was obvious she was probably the only human around. When she actually began to pay attention to the demons closer to her, she noticed how they took one look at Sesshomaru and quickly skirted away, giving them plenty of room so as not to bump into other pedestrians on the walkway.
Was that a good or bad thing, she wondered with a frown, glancing up at Sesshomaru from the corner of her eye. Just who was he, and why did it seem like he inspired both fear and awe in the demons around them? Again she was reminded of just how little she knew about this Inugami, while he probably knew a lot more about her. However, when she’d tried to get to know him better, he’d seemed disinclined to cooperate with her attempts. Well, whatever the reason everyone wanted to keep a wide berth from him, Kagome decided to count it as a blessing in disguise. At least then that meant they just might continue on their way unmolested. She feared what would have happened to her had she been travelling in this world all on her own.
A shiver went down her spine at the thought, especially when she again glanced at the monsters around her. Both low level and high ranking demons walked the streets or traveled on mounts of various creatures or in wooden conveniences she knew the wealthy and nobles must use.
Not watching where she was going, Kagome missed the wooden plank that wasn’t properly nailed to the ground and stumbled over it. She would have fallen flat on her face had Sesshomaru not yanked backwards on the hand he held and caught her up against his side. Blinking quickly, she flushed crimson at her clumsy misstep and whispered her thanks and apologies without looking up at him.
“Careful, Kagome.”
That was it, just two, simple words, and yet the sound of his voice had her heart skipping a beat. It was low, too intimate, meant just for her. She felt goose bumps sprout on her forearms, and helplessly, her mind conjured up thoughts of that wicked voice murmuring heated words to her while they were wrapped in each other’s arms…
Stop thinking about it! The blush on her face now had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with her growing arousal. She hoped to kami Sesshomaru wasn’t aware of her arousal with all the scents around them, but when she heard his low, husky chuckle, she knew he was aware of her body’s response to him.
“Weren’t we going to an informant of yours?” she asked quickly, nervously.
“In a moment. First we need to find you more suitable garments and weapons.”
“Weapons?” she asked bemused, turning to him in question.
A silver brow lifted as he returned her gaze for a moment, before pulling her forward once more.
“A bow and quiver of arrows, or would you prefer to remain unarmed and rely on my protection, aijin? Though I will continue to keep you safe regardless, I would think you would feel more secure with a weapon in hand, am I correct?”
“Don’t call me that!” she almost shrieked, ignoring the rest of his explanation, and glancing around them nervously, hoping no one had heard Sesshomaru use the term ‘lover’ with her.
“Hn,” was his only response, and she knew her reprimand had fallen on deaf ears like usual.
“Why does it bother you?” he surprised her by asking not a minute later. “We are lovers—”
“Sesshomaru!” she hissed. Again she looked around to see if anyone had heard, while he had the gall to chuckle. “Don’t give me that…lame excuse! You’ve been calling me that before…before…”
“We had sex?” he teased her again.
She jabbed him with her elbow, but that only seemed to amuse him more, so she seethed in embarrassed silence.
However, she all but forgot her embarrassment and anger when he propelled her into a clothes shop, where he ordered the shop keeper around like he owned the place to find her suitable garments. Surprisingly, he asked for a pair of hakama and haori for her. It was doubtful the shop had miko garments, but at least she’d finally be wearing something similar to what she was accustomed to. In a matter of minutes, a set was picked out for her, and she was ushered into a changing room before she really had a good look at them. Though she was thankful Sesshomaru hadn’t insisted on following her inside, Kagome couldn’t help but be apprehensive at being alone in this strange place filled with youkai, so she dragged her ugly, torn, and stained kimono off with a sigh of relief and yanked on her new clothes.
The inner haori was black, but the outer one was a beautiful pearly white with black embroidery along the hem, while her hakama was pitch black with glimmering stitch work of the same pearl hue in the shape of spider lilies at each hip. At first, she couldn’t help but admire the obviously expensive fabric…until she stepped out for Sesshomaru’s inspection and realized they almost matched, what with Sesshomaru’s haori white and black hakama, with just a gold obi to offset the somber tones.
Why did they have to wear similar garments? she inwardly grouched, feeling less than satisfied with her new clothes after this new knowledge. However, Sesshomaru gave a nod of approval and promptly paid for her clothes and had her hand in his once again, leading her out of the shop, and presumably towards one that sold weapons. Holding hands with him took on a whole new meaning now. Did everyone think… Did these demons believe she was his woman or something? Sumptuously, Kagome tried to pull against her hand and free herself, but when Sesshomaru’s clawed hand tightened, she ceased with an internal sigh. What did it matter anyway if these strangers thought she was his? Perhaps that was a good thing, and Sesshomaru was making sure no one tried to accost her.
Yeah…maybe. She still wasn’t too thrilled about this whole situation, though. She wasn’t his. No matter what they had done together in the past—like having mind blowing sex. Nope, she still wasn’t his.
Not fifteen minutes later, she felt the comfortable weight of a quiver of arrows slung over one shoulder and the smooth wood of a long bow in her free hand. She hadn’t realized until this moment how much she had felt naked without her weapon. What was more, they gave her added courage to traverse these strange streets with demons so close at hand. Her mood improved so much, she no longer felt self-conscious holding hands with Sesshomaru, or being mistaken as his paramour. Things were finally looking up.
“Sesshomaru! It’s been ages since last you’ve come to see me,” a male’s voice Kagome didn’t recognize called out farther into the next shop they entered.
“Kazuo,” Sesshomaru acknowledged, releasing Kagome’s hand as they walked farther inside what looked like a mystic’s shop.
“Ah, and I see you have a companion. A human. No, a miko. Now this is a surprise. Why are you keeping such strange company, hmm?”
Silver eyes trapped Kagome when she met this shop keeper’s stare. The irises swirled strangely yet beautifully. Eyes shouldn’t be able to do that, and Kagome had never heard of even youkai eyes having this strange quality to them. She tried to look away, to take in more of this strange man’s feature but couldn’t. She wasn’t even capable of blinking even when her eyes began to burn from lack of moisture. Fear began to snake down her spine as she willed herself to look away but getting nowhere fast.
“Enough,” Sesshomaru demanded, his voice low and filled with an icy promise of retaliation should his will not be followed.
The other youkai blinked, and as easy as that, whatever spell she had been under lifted. Shaking, Kagome took a step back and to the side, closer to Sesshomaru, not fighting the Inugami when his arm settled possessively around her shoulders, pulling her up tight against his side. Her eyes never left the silver eyed demon, but she made sure never to meet his ominous gaze again for fear they would trap her once more.
“W-what…” she whispered, uncomprehendingly.
“Kagome, this is Kazuo, a seer. Kazuo, meet the miko Kagome. She is not to be harmed,” Sesshomaru warned softly, staring the other demon down.
Kazuo only laughed in the face of the Inugami’s ire, waving a nonchalant hand in the air. “Forgive me, miko Kagome. No offense was intended. I couldn’t help myself, not when a miko walks into my shop for the first time.”
“In the future, I suggest you control your curiosity, lest it drives you to an early grave,” Sesshomaru said smoothly, with dire consequences implied but not spoken.
While they conversed, Kagome stared at Kazuo, making sure never to meet his gaze, which was easy enough, considering he seemed to have forgotten all about her presence, though she stood so close to Sesshomaru.
He was beautiful. Not as ethereal like Sesshomaru, but there was no denying how becoming the seer was. He was tall, though perhaps a couple inches shorter than the Inugami. His hair was short, spiked, and the color of blood. Also like Sesshomaru, his skin was alabaster white, but instead of demonic markings adorning his face, a gold stud flashed on his left cheek bone, just under his eye. He was clothed in rich fabrics. Though he wore silver hakama, his chest was bare, showing off his muscular physic, but over his shoulders was a robin’s egg blue kimono with a white diamond shape design lining the fabric. And on his feet he wore simple sandals, but on closer inspection, they were gold, just as expensive as the rest of his garments.
However, she blushed and looked away before she was caught staring at the nipple ring that flashed gold when he made the smallest movement. Why was he half undressed?! she thought almost wildly. And he was a shop owner?
“It seems your human has an interest in me,” Kazuo said, his voice shifting, more seductive than before, deeper.
Kagome stiffened, realizing she hadn’t gotten away with ogling the man. Her blush, along with her discomfort, intensified.
Hearing Kazuo’s statement, Sesshomaru scowled and glanced down at Kagome, but she wasn’t looking at him, but thankfully, she wasn’t looking at the other male either. She was his, dammit. If she felt the need to stare at a man, it should only be him.
“You overstep,” he warned Kazuo, eyes narrowing when he saw male interest in the seer’s gaze as he studied his miko far too closely in his opinion.
Getting down to business, wanting to get Kagome as far away from Kazuo as possible, he continued. “You undoubtedly know why I am here.” Reaching into the folds of his haori sleeve, he threw several coins at the other demon, who caught them without even looking. “Give me the information I seek so that we may leave.”
“Impatient as always,” Kazuo said good-naturedly. “I keep telling you I don’t see all. In fact, I was not aware that you’d be arriving with a miko.”
“The bandit forces in the mortal world, their main stronghold. Where is it?” Sesshomaru asked, though it was more of a demand than anything.
Kazuo gave Kagome a sympathetic look, one she quickly averted, pretending to gaze at the many objects in his shop. There was magic here. She could sense it from everything within, the crystal balls, the strange boxes, the many books and there were herbs and many jars with eye balls floating around, animal feet and much more—spell components.
“I don’t know how you can stand this Inugami, miko, and I empathize with your suffering.”
Before she could answer, Sesshomaru said Kazuo’s name warningly.
“Fine, fine. Yes, I know where these humans dwell. Or at least I will shortly.”
With that, Kazuo went farther into his shop and took a seat behind an impressive mahogany desk. A rich, red fabric blanketed the top, and there were many object cluttering the surface, save for a clear space in the center—cards and more herbs, a large crystal ball and small pouches, papers and quills.
Curious, Kagome watched as the seer picked up a blue, velvet pouch, stuck his hand in and tossed a few small objects onto the table, murmuring something she did not quite catch, in a language she did not recognize. And were those…bones he’d tossed on his desk? Blinking, Kagome stepped closer when she saw something else. A map. One of the bones glowed a light blue, but she couldn’t tell where it had landed on the map.
“Here,” Kazuo said, pointing at the glowing shard, and Sesshomaru stepped nearer for a closer inspection. As he moved, he snagged her hand again, bringing her with him.
“Hn,” Sesshomaru said, eyeing the map.
Kagome barely had a glimpse of their supposed destination when he was turning and dragging her behind him, obviously intending to leave. Kagome had to walk a little faster to keep up with his long strides, but Kazuo stopped them by calling Sesshomaru’s name.
They both turned to the seer questioningly.
Without meaning to, Kagome stared into Kazuo’s silver eyes, and saw them swirl and light up with an inhuman glow. She glanced away quickly, fearing he meant to trap her again, but he didn’t seem to be seeing them, but gazing into a realm far beyond her perception.
“Beware, Sesshomaru. Your enemy is on the move. You’ll be seeing him very soon, I wager.”
“Speak more plainly. I have many enemies.”
Kazuo’s sight focused on Sesshomaru, coming back from whatever realm his foresight had taken him to.
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll remember this one. Tatsuo.”
Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed. “What of him?”
Kazuo shrugged. “I but had a mere glimpse, but it seems he has made a contract with a man you thought recently dead.” Then he glanced at Kagome meaningfully and grinned.
Sesshomaru stiffened, while Kagome’s face scrunched up in confusion.
“Who are you—” she began, only to be interrupted by Sesshomaru.
“We are leaving.”
And he was pulling on her hand, forcing her to comply.
“Hey!” Kagome exclaimed, miffed that he’d drag her around like a rag doll.
“Be sure to come back soon, Sesshomaru, and do bring the lovely miko along. If you both survive,” Kazuo called after them with dark humor lacing his voice.
Kagome had a few questions to ask Sesshomaru after Kazuo’s last few remarks, and she was pretty sure the seer had had a vision, and going by his parting statement, she had a sinking suspicion it hadn’t been good; however, when she called out to him, he only glanced at her from the corner of his eye, silencing her with just a glance. Her mouth snapped shut with an audible snap as she continued to jog after him. She was starting to get really annoyed that he continued to drag her along, but when he tugged her into an alley and waved his hand to open a portal back to her world, she allowed him to pull her out of the spirit world.
Instantly, her volatile reiki subsided, the demonic pressure all but vanishing as they stepped into the woods. Looking around, Kagome had no idea where they were, but her focus went back to Sesshomaru when he finally released her.
She waited for him to speak, but when he remained silent for long seconds, staring off into space, probably lost in thought, she again opened her mouth to speak.
“Who’s Tatsuo?”
She wanted to ask more, but thought it best to keep her inquires short and sweet, just in case he thought to interrupt her. She wasn’t sure he’d answer, but surprisingly, he did.
“An Inugami.”
Kagome blinked and waited for him to elaborate, but Sesshomaru remained silent, obviously thinking that answered everything. Not quite.
“So he’s like you?” she hedged.
He shot her a glare, causing her to take a step back. As if thinking she meant to flee, he snagged her wrist again and brought her up against his chest.
“Never run from me. I will not harm you.”
“Right,” she muttered, placing her hands on his chest, unsure as to what to do in this situation.
Ignoring how her body instantly responded to the closeness of his was hard—damn near impossible, but she’d try. She still had questions. But he was already speaking before she could voice even one.
“I am nothing like that vermin.”
“Ah… okay. Sorry. It’s just, he’s an Inugami, too…”
“That is the only similarity between us,” he said adamantly.
She was quick to nod her head, lest he think she didn’t believe him and became angry again.
“So… Who is he exactly? Kazuo seemed to think he might be a problem for us in the future.”
“You have nothing to fear. I will protect you.” Sesshomaru seemed to mule over something in his mind before continuing. “Tatsuo and I met briefly many years ago. We had an altercation, and we fought. I won. But before I could kill him, the coward fled.”
“And I’m guessing he’s out for revenge,” Kagome concluded slowly, wondering at the details of this ‘altercation’, but didn’t ask.
“Perhaps,” Sesshomaru replied noncommittally. “Come,” he continued, moving a hand to the small of her back, encouraging her to start walking with him once more. “After finding you nourishment, we shall hunt down the bandits’ main forces, and perhaps we’ll meet your sister there.”
Finding this plan suitable, Kagome didn’t hesitate to follow after him. She just hoped they’d find Kikyo before anything bad happened to her. It was still drizzling rain, but at least the canopy of trees protected them from most of the droplets.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: To those who wanted, perhaps were hoping, for Sesshomaru to rape Kagome, I want to formally tell you that I will never write a rape lemon or have either of our favorite characters rape the other. It's not my cup of tea. This may be a fic filled with corruption but I will not write that kind of lemon.