Bound by Corruption by BelovedStranger

Attraction

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Word Count: 3,274

Glossary:

Nushi—Master, God, Lover

Nekomata—A Twin Tailed Cat-Daemon

KAGOME FROZE WHEN the inugami shifted.

His muscular body moved in smooth, languid motions as he leaned forward, palms to the grassy ground, before starting a slow advance towards her on hands and knees. His hair fell forward over his broad shoulders, the long strands spilling across the forest floor. Somehow, the thick mass didn’t trip him or interrupt his fluid glide in the slightest, but framed his elfin features to impossible perfection.

His golden stare was intense, intent as he stalked her.

Kagome had never seen anyone move quite like this daemon, more beast than man, all ethereal grace and leashed aggression. His shoulders rolled with every forward press of a hand against the ground, his knees in perfect sync with his arms as he came closer. His swords dragged along the ground—ignored—emphasizing the sensual undulation of his lean hips.

At his unwavering approach, she lurched backwards on her own hands and feet, but her retreat was clumsy, frantic, nothing compared to his smooth advance.

“Inu...gami...?” she stuttered, breathless.

“Choose, aijin. Will you honor our contract, or—”

Intimidated by the heat that entered his amber gaze more than his words, Kagome again pushed away from him. Her body had begun to act strangely since he’d first started crawling towards her, a warmth tightening low in her belly. Her heart fluttered like a caged bird, her breathing escalating, but not wholly out of fear.

Confusion over her own body’s reactions kept her mute.

Her retreat did nothing to discourage him. In fact, he was gaining on her without seeming to rush. So closely did she watch him, she saw the moment his gaze lowered to her mouth. Her lips tingled.

He concluded on a low growl, a purr. “—shall I devour you?”

Her body clenched, a whimper nearly escaping her. His words sent a thrill through her—excitement. Disconcerted by her unfathomable reaction, she clenched her eyes closed and shook her head to clear her muddled thoughts.

Was he casting a spell on her? A curse?

Impossible!

Was it?

When she opened her eyes, he was much closer, almost right on top of her. The dried blood on his garment drew her attention. Heat turned to ice with the memory of the slaughter. The bodies.

For one, awful moment, this being repulsed her. Only for her to remember how those bloodstains had come about.

He’d answered her desperate pleas.

He’d saved her. Not the Inu no Kami she had come to beg for salvation, but this creature she was supposed to despise. If the kami were merciful, why then had they abandoned her when this inugami had not?

Then he was crawling over her while she’d been distracted. His hands were on either side of her hips, his head and shoulders bent over her, leaning in close, causing his hair to pool in her lap. Meeting his intense stare, she felt her own soften. He was no longer just a youkai. He was her savior.

“Thank you,” she breathed with sincerity.

It was his turn to pause. He didn’t even seem to be breathe as the heat gradually left his eyes to be replaced with puzzlement. and something else. Then he blinked, masking his thoughts before she could fully decipher his expression.

She felt herself relax. “You saved me.” Gratitude choked her disgust.

She should be furious. She’d been in danger, and he’d taken advantage. Hard pressed for time, she’d been moments away from falling into the bandits’ clutches when this being had made his offer. Worse, he’d taken her only defense, forcing her to rely on him completely. And yet, she wasn’t foolish enough to believe she would have made it out alive even had she had her weapon in hand.

She should plead ignorance, of not knowing what it was she was actually agreeing to, but she had. She’d known what he was. A youkai. And she’d agreed anyway. Why? Because he had answered her call.

Her salvation came not in the form of a benevolent god but a daemon, and an inugami did nothing for free. Neither did most humans, she knew. The anger she felt towards this stranger was instead placed upon the absent Inu no Kami, and on herself, for foolishly insisting on leaving her village, while knowing the possible dangers that awaited her.

She had no one to blame but herself.

Eyes on the brown stain, she reached for him without conscious thought, until she felt his heart beating strong beneath her palm. Even through his clothes, she perceived the warmth of his skin.

His exhalation was harsh, drawing her gaze to his. His lids lowered, partially hiding his beautiful, inhuman eyes. He was gazing at her mouth again, and an answering yearning filled her being when she saw his head lower towards her. She remembered. The press of his lips on hers—and the taste of blood. His and hers.

A blood contract, a binding ritual.

Despite her gratitude towards his intervention, and her anger towards the kami—and herself, her trepidation returned.

The price he demanded was far too high.

She crawled back, away from him, just before his mouth would have touched hers. She didn’t get far, a tree preventing her escape. She pressed herself hard against the coarse bark, watching the inugami with mistrust, even a little fear.

He blinked, seeming to come out of a trance. His gaze was sharp, fierce, as he sought hers. But then he smiled, a predator’s baring of teeth, and lunged, hovering over her once more. She thought he was going to ignore her rejection and kiss her anyway, but his lips remained inches above her own. Not taking. Waiting. Gazes locked, breath shared between them, Kagome licked her suddenly dry lips. He tracked the movement before returning to her eyes.

“Your choice, aijin?”

His words seemed to mock her, and she glared back in defiance, understanding that he was trying to intimidate her. The nerve! Her ire only seemed to amuse him, for he chuckled.

Instead, she offered him a confident, albeit shaky, smile.

Her reaction wiped away his amusement, his gaze becoming watchful. Her grin grew as did her confidence. Past words of wisdom and encouragement Kikyo had imparted to her returned: ‘Give me somewhere to stand, and I will move the earth.’ How many times had her elder sister told her, given the right tools, even the most seemingly impossible task could be accomplished?

“You spoke of being given an opportunity to corrupt me, right?”

His gaze intensified. “Correct.”

“And what if all your efforts to corrupt me fail? What then? Miko are often tested, the temptation to fall ever present. Few actually do.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about, miko.”

His derision of her station could not ruin the sudden easing of her tension. What had she to fear? This inugami threatened nothing more than what any normal miko faced on a daily basis: a choice to remain in the light or to fall to darkness.

She had to be sure there was no misunderstanding. She pressed, “You will not force me?” It was not unheard of for a miko to be turned unwillingly.

He was silent a moment, contemplating her. “I desire your willing participation. I will not force you.”

Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, he gave her a wolfish grin. “However, I assure you, aijin, that you will be begging me to corrupt you in every way imaginable.”

There was no mistaking the hidden innuendo. Blushing fiercely, she bit her tongue, knowing intuitively that he was baiting her. She refused to play his games. At least, insofar as their contract entailed.

Instead, she asked, “How long is the deration of this contract until it is void?” She scowled. “Your attempts to corrupt me cannot go on indefinitely.”

An elegant shrug. “A full moon cycle should suffice.”

“Overly arrogant, aren’t you?”

“I prefer ‘confidant’.”

Rather than challenge his claim, seeing the futility, she only sighed with a nod. “Agreed. One moon cycle.”

Another grin hinted at his lips, this one, full of condescension. “I know your thoughts, aijin,” he whispered in his deep baritone. “You think to beat me at my own game.” Masculine lips were suddenly hovering above her own. “You are wrong.”

Then he kissed her, melding his mouth to her plush lips.

Shock held her still for a fraction of a moment, her heart stuttering in her chest, before she began pushed against his chest. When that didn’t work, she attempted to turn away. Denying her escape, he angled his head, following her mouth. His kiss was brutal. To keep her in place, his thumb and forefinger gripped her chin, then pressed, forcing her mouth open. He shocked her by thrusting his tongue inside, dominating her mouth with sure, strong licks.

He masterfully quelled her objections, showing her untutored body the pleasures of the flesh. Unable to counteract his all too enjoyable assault, Kagome gave in with a whimper, moving her tongue against his with hesitation.

His groan was deep, thrilling.

His caressing tongue encouraged hers to dance to his tune, stroking the fire of her passion she’d never before experienced. All too soon, she was having difficulty breathing, unused to the ardor of a kiss.

He seemed to understand, breaking away, where she gasped for much needed air. His fingers at her chin forced her head back against the bark of the tree behind her, baring her pale throat to his heated kisses. His other hand gripped her hip when his tongue teased the frantic beat of her pulse, fangs dangerously close to vulnerable flesh.

“Wait...” A weak protested. Her hands fisted the haori at his shoulders. “Y-you said...you wouldn’t...force me.”

He stilled, his wet mouth unmoving on her sensitized flesh. Leaning back, he met her gaze with a scowl. “Do not mistake this as force.”

“But it is.” A pant ruined her insistence. “I don’t want this.” Her body trembled with suppressed want, her mind and body at war with conflicting demands. To stop. To continue.

“You lie, but your body does not.”

How did he—?!

In one quick motion, he stood and backed away from her. Feeling shaky, Kagome got to her feet, forced to lean against the tree when her knees threatened to deposit her unceremoniously onto the ground, and watched him. Wary. He did not appear to be pleased with her.

Ignoring his accurate assessment, too embarrassed by her own desire—for a daemon, she deflected. “Why do you keep calling me aijin? My name is Kagome. Kagome Higurashi.”

“Hn.”

She waited, but he said nothing more.

“In case you were unaware, it is common practice to share your name once introductions have begun. Unless you prefer I call you inugami or daemon.”

His smile was, sexual heat blazing in his amber eyes. “You may refer to me as nushi.”

She blushed, sputtering. “Not on your life!”

He sighed, as if aggrieved by her refusal, before becoming serious. “Sesshomaru.”

Kagome blinked, nonplused. He wasn’t serious? But he was.

The Killing Perfection.

Remembering how the bandits had met a brutal end, she shuddered and thought the name suited him with perfection. She no longer feared this youkai for the violence he had committed to save her life, but the bloody images still made her quake.

“Sesshomaru.” Kagome nodded her head, a small bow of respect. He may be a daemon, but he’d earned her gratitude. She took a good look around her. “Do you know where we are?”

His answer confirmed that they were not far from the shrine and, in fact, on the right track towards her small village.

More hesitantly, her question spoken soft, “And the bodies?”

“Destroyed, along with the shrine.”

“What do you mean destroyed?! What happened to the shrine?”

The inugami, no, Sesshomaru, met her gaze without a hint of remorse. “The smell of blood would have brought any number of predators to the area. I melted everything to the ground as a precaution.”

“Melted?” she whispered.

Without answering, he turned away from her. At first, she thought he meant to leave her, but then, he lifted his right hand and a green spray-like gas shot from his claws, melting the trees and foliage it touched.

Gasping, Kagome lurched backwards, smacking into the obstacle still at her back. The sound of wood hissing seared her ears, while the sight of the liquidated mess at Sesshomaru’s feet was a terrifying testament to his power. He turned back to her, gaze impassive.

“Oh,” she murmured weakly, not knowing what else to say.

He didn’t comment. Instead, he walked towards her. She froze, wondering what he was about to do, but all he did was walk past her. “It is time to depart, Kagome.”

Ignoring his mockery when uttering her name, she turned and ran after him. “Wait! Where are you going?”

“We are going to my earthly domain.”

At least he wasn’t taking her to his home in the spirit realm, where she knew not only the kami resided. The daemons had their own special place in that fabled domain, an area she had no eagerness to visit. Still, his intentions were unacceptable.

“Wait! Stop.” When he ignored her, his long strides eating up the ground, she ran after him, grabbing ahold of his arm. That stopped him.

He turned to her, silver brow raised. “If you wanted me, aijin, all you had to do was say so.”

Choking on her next breath, she blushed and released him as though he’d burned her. “My name is Kagome,” she insisted, “and I don’t!” Another half-lie, but she ignored her traitorous body. “I can’t just leave my village. I have a home and a family waiting for me. I have responsibilities!”

“We have a contract,” he reminded her, taking a threatening step towards her.

Stepping back quickly, she raised her hands defensively. “I never agreed to go with you to your domain, or anywhere you wish! I have prior duties that take precedence over your contract.”

“Our,” he reminded her.

“Fine, our contract. I still can’t just leave my life and abandon my duties for an entire month!” She crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to budge.

He considered her a moment, then nodded. “Then we shall return to your village.” Then he gazed pointedly at her, waiting for her to lead the way.

“But we can’t,” she said, voice desperate.

He lifted an eyebrow at her continual objections.

“You’re youkai! My obaasan and elder sister will try to purify you.” Although, that would solve her current problem. “And besides,” she continued, “it’ll raise too many questions why we’re together.” Kagome was horrified at the thought of her family finding out that she’d made a deal with the devil. They’d never trust her with anything again! Perhaps she should let Kikyo purify him…

As if reading her mind, he smirked. “You wish to keep my exitance a secret, aijin?”

“Of course,” scowling at the amusement reflected in his gaze.

“Then it can’t be helped.”

Before she could formulate a response to that cryptic remark, Sesshomaru transformed. Mouth gaping, eyes widening, she watched as his nose and mouth elongated, transforming his beautiful features into something ugly and grotesque. His wide shoulders hunched forward, bending him in half as his hair whipped around him from an invisible wind, obscuring most of his shifting features.

She watched in mute astonishment, and horror, as sliver fur grew at an accelerated rate along his arms that bent out of shape with a horrendous popping and grinding sound, bone shifting nauseatingly beneath his skin. The proud figure crouched on his hands and knees, his long hair molding to his body, before forming a mane of fur around his neck, revealing his features to have become that of a canine.

For a moment, Kagome couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Instead of the imposing inugami standing before her, a magnificent, although large, dog stood in the folds of his bloodstained clothes.

The dog’s fur was silver like Sesshomaru’s hair, and the beast had the same markings gracing his forehead and cheekbones. However, his eyes were crimson, the iris glowing blue, with black slits for pupils. The daemon dog took a step towards her, but had to stop as he got tangled in the layers of clothing.

Do you mind extracting me from my clothes, aijin? a voice said in her mind.

Squeaking in surprise, she stumbled back, almost falling as she continued to stare stupidly at the beast.

Well? The dog looked at her with a haughty expression no one could mistake for that of an animal.

Her eyelids lowered as she glowered at him. “You surprised me,” she defended, peeved.

When he continued to stand there, staring at her, she grumbled but cautiously walked towards him. He was huge. His snout stood as high as her breasts. Admittedly, she was short in stature, only five foot four inches, but this was obviously no ordinary dog.

Reaching for him, she knelt and grabbed the lapels of both of his haori and pushed them further away from his chest, feeling how silky smooth his fur was against the backs of her hands. Her fingers twitched with the desire to explore that softness further. “Ah...Sesshomaru? What are you doing... exactly?”

She had a sinking suspicion, rightfully guessing his intentions.

Compromising. I shall accompany you to your village in this form for the time being.

When he again tried to step out of his clothes, she moved to his right and grabbed the back of his hakama in one hand and both haori with the other to help him. He stepped free without any more difficulty and turned to regard her. He was taller than her when she knelt before him like this, so she stood, awkwardly holding onto his clothes, unsure what to do with them.

“Um, I’m not sure this will work.”

You do not wish to accompany me to my domain. Now, you deny me accompanying you wherever you choose to lead. How exactly do you plan on honoring our agreement if I am not allowed to be by your side? Make no mistake, Kagome. We have a contract, and I expect you to uphold your end. Either I come with you in this guise, or without it, or you come with me to my choosing. You may not have a choice later.

Kagome stiffened at his threat, but bit her tongue. He had every right to demand she honor her word. What was more, he was being considerate, trying to work with her stipulations. She couldn’t keep putting him off. Instead, she nodded her understanding, her hands clenched tightly in the folds of his discarded garments.

“What do you wish me to do with your things?” she asked meekly.

Only my swords are of value to me. Bring them. Leave the rest.

His clipped tone made her uneasy. She’d pushed him too far. He was—if not angry—at the very least irritated with her, and an annoyed daemon was bad in her book. Especially in her precarious position when he would be meeting her family. And soon.

He was a youkai; she and her family were miko. They would sense each other instantly. She prayed her family only thought she’d come about a friendly daemon. Hadn’t her own ancestor, Midoriko, possessed a nekomata as a companion, she thought with growing trepidation, as she desperately sought a reasonable explanation for returning with an inuyoukai.

In silence, she led the way to her village, feeling as though she walked towards her doom.