Bound by Corruption by BelovedStranger

Darkness Within

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Here is the next awaited chapter :) I want to thank you all for taking the time to read my story and to give a special thank you to those who have left reviews thus far. It's always encouraging to get feedback from my readers ^^

Prompt: ‘Sweet is the apple when the keeper is away.’

Word Count: 4,494

Light filtered from the canopy of trees to land on the forest floor, revealing small animals going about their daily lives, foraging and nesting, and the beauty of nature that was the green foliage and vibrant colors from the many flowers. Birds sang high in the trees, squirrels and other small, ground creatures gibbered to one another in their own language, and the drone of insects filled the air with nature’s music. Truly a magnificent sight, wildlife in all its splendor.

However, it was all but ignored by the lone young woman who hiked amongst the large trees, giving off an agitated aura as she went. By her side walked a massive, white dog whose head stood nearly as tall as her shoulders. A pensive expression graced her youthful visage, while her chocolate brown eyes constantly darted to her canine companion in silent contemplation.

Kagome played with the hem of her wide sleeve, the silence between her and her unusual companion oppressive to her. She knew he could speak mind to mind with her--disconcerting as that may be--but he did not. She wanted to say something, engage Sesshomaru in conversation to ease what she felt was a silent tension between them, but what could she say? What did you talk about with an Inugami bent on corrupting your soul?

Again her eyes flickered over to Sesshomaru’s sleek white fur. Who was he, really? She knew next to nothing about him, and yet he demanded so much from her. There was no way in hell she was going to let him have his way with her, but still...was it so wrong of her to be curious? To want to understand him a little?

If you wish to speak, then speak, aijin, she heard that familiar masculine voice inside her mind.

She faced forward again, embarrassed to be caught staring. Had he known all along that she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes of him? How mortifying!

To cover up her discomfort, she said, “My name is Kagome. And, um, I was just wondering about your...domain. In this world, I mean.” 

Yeah, smooth, Kagome, she thought with a dejected sigh. Could she have sounded more unsure of herself?

But she was curious about his answer, so she waited expectantly as she stepped over what seemed like the hundredth tree root bent on tripping her up if she was not careful.

If you are curious, then we may journey there instead of your village, and I shall show you.

“No, thank you,” she said, refusing his offer stubbornly. 

She wasn’t that curious. She had a home and family to get back to, along with her daily chores and duties. She didn’t have time to go traipsing wherever with a demon nor the inclination. 

She then reflected that questioning him about his home in the spirit realm would probably gain her the same response and she definitely wouldn’t be following him there--ever.

Still, she was determined to learn something about this man, ah, youkai.

“What about your family? Can you tell me about them?”

No.

She shot a miffed look towards him from the corner of her eye. “Can’t or won’t?”

Won’t.

She gazed at him with displeasure, not liking how he brushed her off, then stumbled over a tree root. Luckily, she caught herself before she fell on her face disgracefully, but Sesshomaru didn’t seem to notice her lack of grace. She wasn’t sure if she should be thankful or miffed at his outward indifference towards her. 

“Is there anything you will tell me? Like how old you are? That’s a simple enough question, right?” Kagome was aware that she was getting over emotional over his clipped answers, but she couldn’t help it. His attitude rubbed her the wrong way, especially after his declaration of desiring to corrupt her. Shouldn’t that signify he liked her in some way, big or small? Granted, they had just met, but he was the one wanting to get physical with her! Okay, and blacken her soul, but still! What were his motives...? Should she ask? 

Why does it matter? You’re prying into things that do not concern you, he answered.

“I’m just trying to get to know you a little,” she defended herself. “Is that such a bad thing?”

His canine face turned to impale her with his golden stare, a devilish glint entering his gaze.

If you wish to get to know me, aijin, there are more pleasurable ways that I can show you, he purred in her mind.

Blushing, she said stoutly, “Forget it!”

Then she subsided, pensive. Her question about his motives nagged at her mind relentlessly. She had to ask. “Hey, Sesshomaru?” she asked in a subdued tone of voice, her eyes firmly on the ground in front of her, afraid to look over at him, afraid of his answer, but she needed to know. “Why...” she hesitated.

She could feel his gaze turning to her, but she refused to meet his curious eyes. She was sure he had picked up on her change in mood.

Speak plainly, aijin.

Kagome decided to ignore his continual refusal to say her name and to just blurt out her question as fast as she could before she lost her nerve. “Why do you wish to corrupt my soul?”

Long minutes passed as she waited for his answer, hardly breathing. She started fidgeting with her kimono sleeve again, coming to the conclusion that he would not answer, but then she heard his voice in her mind again.

We have a contract.

What kind of answer was that?

Kagome shot him a disgruntled expression, then demanded, “Is that always the payment you demand in return from the ones you save?”

It is what I expect in repayment from you, Kagome.

Frustrated by his evasive and even cryptic replies, Kagome clenched her molars and focused on the forest floor before her again, wanting nothing more than to ignore the aggravating presence beside her. Forget conversing. He can remain a stranger to her for all she cared.   

How old are you?

His question surprised her. Then she sniffed at him, peeved.

“If you refuse to share, then so do I.”

His chuckle filtered through her mind, aggravating her further. So he thought her amusing, did he?

I would hazard a guess that you are old enough to be breeding, and yet you are still untutored of the pleasures of the flesh.

She leveled a glare at him, to which he ignored. He didn’t even spare her a glance.

“I’m a miko,” she reminded him. “We aren’t normally permitted to take a husband, so it doesn’t matter what age I am. I’d still be pure in old age.”

Normally she would have become embarrassed discussing her chaste state, but she was annoyed with him, which seemed to cure her of her shy tendencies momentarily.

One does not have to be bound by matrimony to take pleasure from another.  

Now he was calling her a whore?! “Listen here you--” she started to fume angrily, stopping in her tracks to nail him with the full wrath of her glare, but he interrupted her tirade before it even began.

Surely you have been curious, miko, he mocked her title.

Her words stumbled to an abrupt halt as memories of Hojo, one of many farmers in her village, entered her mind only then to be banished by the memory of Sesshomaru’s human face with eyes full of sexual promise.

Now she blushed, for it was true. She had been curious upon occasion when Hojo would come visiting her, or when she saw him working in the fields. Golden eyes then filled her mind, reminding her of another who prompted such desire in her. No! She didn’t think of this youkai in that light. Never!

“You pry into things that don’t concern you,” she repeated his words, hoping he would not notice her reaction.

Of course he had.

You may be innocent of carnal relations; however, I believe you have felt the stirrings of desire.

“You’re still prying,” she muttered, refusing to answer such a personal question.

Still, he refused to relent in his inquiries.

Have I stolen your first kiss, aijin? he asked wickedly.

Her cheeks flushed red once again. She looked away from him, silently walking beside him.

His knowing chuckle infuriated her.

“Yeah, well it was nothing to brag about! It was hardly enjoyable,” she said derisively.

It wasn’t a lie. Her first kiss, admittedly by him, was not a pleasurable experience. She had been far too focused on the men bent on doing her harm then the press of his lips against her own. Then she recalled the taste of iron and the sharp prick of pain as his fang pierced her tongue. Sesshomaru had exchanged a marginable amount of blood between them to seal their contract.

As if reading her mind, Sesshomaru mentally said to her confidently, The second made up for the first. Then he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. There is much pleasure I would teach you, aijin, if only you would open up to me.

“No!”

‘Sweet is the apple when the keeper is away,’ he quoted to her. No one is here but you and I. None need learn if you choose to experience gratification with me, miko.

“I said, no!” screeched Kagome loud enough to scare the birds in the tree above her, who squawked in fear and indignation.

Later that night...

Darkness had fallen around the dense forest, creating menacing shadows from the dancing flames from the camp fire Sesshomaru had insisted she blaze. He claimed he hadn’t wanted her to become chilled through the night. She had tried to tell him it was dangerous, that anyone could see their light and come investigate. He had merely assured her that he was capable of protecting her. He had sounded miffed that she had dared doubt his ability to do so.

Sesshomaru, still in dog form, lay across the fire from the sleeping onna, watching her as she slept. It had taken her over an hour after laying down to actually fall asleep, and he was aware of the moment when her heart slowed, her breathing growing shallow, as sleep overcame her.

His mind replayed their earlier conversation, more specifically, one of her many questions. “Why do you wish to corrupt my soul?”

He traced his gaze over her pale, heart-shaped face, over her lowered lashes, small noise, and delicate cheek bones. Her hair surrounded her like a black veil. She was curled on her side, facing the fire, the orange light dancing across her serene features, her face unmarked by blemish or age.

She was not the most beautiful woman he had laid eyes upon, human or otherwise, not even close, but nor was she displeasing to the eye. Her facial features were that of a sweet countenance that could beguile a hardened man and believe in the innocence reflected there. His eyes traveled over her small form, taking in her curled body. He could not deny that her form was attractive  then but curved in the right places. Her bust was not overly large, nor was it small, her hips rounded out nicely, and her belly appeared to be flat underneath all her clothing.

However, it would not have mattered to him, he reflected, if she had looked less favorably. It was not her face or body that which compelled him to her. Rather it was because of who she was and what she stood for. There had been many of her ilk, both monks and miko, who had viewed him as a loathsome beast unfit to live in their world. As if his very existence was an abomination against nature that they felt obliged to eradicate.

She was no different from the many before her. A hypocrite who thought just because they wielded the power of purification that they were above all others. But Sesshomaru knew, had witnessed, that they, too, held the same darkness inside their hearts and souls as he carried in his own. Like the bandits bent on doing her harm, a miko such as she could be just as vile. And he wanted to rip the shroud she hid behind and make her aware, to fully acknowledge, that she was just like those men, like him.

He blinked, recalling the moment he had become aware of her predicament. He had been passing by the Inu no Kami’s temple and noticed a large number of ningen gathered around the temple doors. He would have ignored their presence and continued on his way but for a young woman’s  cries of deliverance as they reached his sensitive ears.

He assessed the situation with new eyes, actually listened to the derogatory remarks made by the human males as they hooted and hollered, trying to gain entry to the temple. He knew what they had planned for the fearful woman momentarily locked inside. Instead of feeling sorrow and rage at her plight, he was empty. He felt nothing for this faceless woman who would most likely be raped, her body mutilated beyond recognition, before death.

He was no hero, though he knew he could save her easily if he so wished, but he did not. The lives of humans were of no concern to him. Was any life for that matter? None save his own. He had begun to turn away, already turning his mind from the chaos behind him until he heard one word--miko.

Sesshomaru had frozen in his step then turned his head to gaze over his shoulder in silent speculation. Then he chuckled. A miko. A being said to be above reproach who sought shelter in the Inu no Kami’s temple, seeking divine intervention, and receiving no answer. How ironic. If one such as her was truly blessed by the gods, then why were her please of salvation ignored? It was obvious what her fate would be once the ningen got their hands on her, and they would, soon.

A small grin of pure malice touched his lips as he turned into a shade, unseen by most creatures, and spirited himself inside the temple. This he had to see. As he looked down at the miko’s bent head, her shoulders trembling in fear, he remembered every attack, every spiteful word that had fallen from the lips of a similar being and his enjoyment grew. A just fate for one who would judge another for faults they themselves harbored. He intended to watch her fall from grace, for not even the gods wished to lift a hand to help that which was supposedly one of their own.  

He squatted down before her as she frantically tried to pour her offering of wine for the kami, hoping to elicit his help, wanting to gaze into her terror stricken eyes. And when he did, he was struck by a strange feeling. His eyes stared into her liquid brown pools, frozen where he crouched as he saw a look in her eyes he had never seen in another. It was more than fear he witnessed swirling there. They were eyes without guile, innocent as a babe’s, for only a babe was pure before it grew and became tainted by the world as all beings were.

Before he knew what he was doing, he had become corporal again and wrapped his hands around her own which still held the small jug of wine. Their eyes met and he was lost.

Returning to the present he scoffed at himself for the hundredth time. She innocent? No, there was darkness inside every living, breathing being, and he would prove to himself and to her that she was no different than the others he had come across in his travels. She may pretend, or truly believe, lying to herself, that she was untainted, but he knew different. The darkness inside of him had recognized a similar stirring, though small, from her. She held the darkness within her, too, and he would force her to acknowledge its presence and wipe that deceptive look from her eyes forever.

Then he would kill her. She had been meant to die this day. Who was he to play with fate? He chuckled evilly, the sound coming out inhuman in his dog-like form. Again his gaze swept over her sleeping form. Just the thought of spreading that small glimmer of darkness inside her, of corrupting her further, hardened his flesh. Teaching her the pleasures of the flesh, piercing her innocent body with his, heated his blood. Only when all traces of her pure light was banished, when her soul was as black as his own would he kill her.            

Unable to stay away, he stood, and walked over to the sleeping girl on padded paws, then shifted to his human form to kneel beside her. As if compelled, he reached out and stroked her soft cheek. When she made a soft noise, he stilled, thinking she was waking, but she settled again. Her lashes flickered as if she dreamed.

He wondered what that may be. What did the innocent dream? Did she dream of him?

The pulse at the side of her throat caught and held his attention so much so that his hand unconsciously moved downward to stroke along the slow beating rhythm. Lust pounded in his veins, his shaft aching to be buried inside her body. He moved his hand further down in a light caress to the V of her kimono where cloth met to cover her flesh.

He couldn’t understand the compulsion he had to touch her, to be near her, but he was helpless to deny his longing. Never before had he reacted as such with another. It was more, different, than darkness calling to darkness, but what that something else could be, he didn’t know, and it aggravated him. Before he ended her life, he would have the answer to that mystery.  

For now, he removed his touch and relocated behind her, spooning behind her back, and bringing her close to his chest and in the crook of his hips. He laid an arm around her impossibly small waist, his hand spread wide on her flat stomach, completely spanning it with his large palm. Then he eased his other arm under her, pillowing her head with his biceps before curling more tightly around her, his nose buried in her sweet smelling hair.

He was careful not to jostle her, not wanting her to wake and tell him to leave her. Since his kind required little to no sleep, he spent the long hours of the night gazing at her dark head, and contemplating the day ahead.     

Kagome awoke to warmth and a heady scent that filtered through her drowsy senses, causing her to blindly seek out more. She snuggled closer to the heat, and nuzzled her nose into it, wanting to inhale that potent scent throughout her lungs. As her mind further rose from her slumber, she noticed that the ‘warmth’ she had been nestling closer to was firm beneath her, yet smooth, like steel wrapped in silk under her hand. 

Then she noticed a weight wrapped around her waist from behind and heard a steady heartbeat beneath her ear along with a rhythmic rise and fall that lifted her repeatedly ever so slightly. Her eyes popped open. Her cheek was pressed against hard muscle, and she tilted her head back, befuddled. Her eyes found molten amber.

Sesshomaru knew the instant she awoke. Her breathing became more heavy, her heart beat faster as her conscious rose from slumber. After long seconds of her nestling closer to his bare chest, he felt her freeze against his side, before her head tilted back, brushing her glossy mane against his chest, to look up at him without guile. Her confusion was tangible.

When clarity entered her eyes, she blushed, which caused him to smirk at her reaction.

“Good morning, aijin,” he rumbled.

Without answering, she tried to push up and away from him with her hand and forearm against his chest, but he tightened his arm around her, keeping her close, refusing to give up their closeness just yet. 

Not knowing how she should respond to the situation with her mind still clouded from sleep, she hesitantly met his gaze once more and whispered back, “Good morning, Sesshomaru.”

Her eyes fluttered away from his as she again tested his hold on her. Nope, she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

His hand caught her chin, forcing her to met his stare from just an inch away.

“I owe you a more memorable kiss,” he said huskily.

Before she could even think to form a response, his lips consumed her. His head tilted, aligning their mouths for a better angle as his tongue pressed against her lips, seeking entrance. She couldn’t help but respond. Later she would blame her reaction upon just waking and unable to form coherent thought yet.

Her mind went blank. All she could do was feel. Her mouth opened, and his tongue swept in, stroking along every dip and crevice. Instinctively, she responded, moving her tongue against his at first hesitantly, then more boldly as pleasure swamped her.

Her hair was like a veil around them, hiding their passionate embrace from the outside world. Her black tresses mixed with his silvery white mane making it seem as if she were the dark angel and he the white. It was a contrast between their natures that was not lost on Sesshomaru, and he burned hotter, aching for the woman above him to surround him with her soft touch.

Kagome was beyond thought as she tried to get closer to Sesshomaru, his touch intoxicated her, his scent once again filling her lungs. She ached in places that had never seen the light of day, her body crying out for more, though she knew not for what.

When she felt Sesshomaru shift his hands down her back and over her hips to grasp her behind, she was shocked at the unexpected but pleasurable contact as he squeezed the globes. She broke the kiss with a startled gasp. She gazed down at him with wide eyes for several long seconds before her face turned red and she began to struggle in earnest.

“What do you think you’re doing, Sesshomaru?!” she screeched.

He moved his hands, thankfully, to her back and kept her pinned half on top of him. Ignoring her struggles, he asked, “Was it better?”

Huffing, unhappy that he refused to release her, she glared down at him and peevishly asked, “What?” not understanding his question.

“The kiss. Did you enjoy it more this time?”

He was teasing her, and she knew it.

Sputtering, she demanded, “Let go!” and commenced with her struggles again.

“Not until you answer me truthfully, aijin.” His arms tightened around her, pressing her lush curves against the hard expanse of his chest, enjoying her wriggling movements.

“My name is Kagome,” she growled, ignoring his demand as she continued to thrash atop him.

It was a futile battle, one she reluctantly, silently, admitted defeat to if ungraciously. “It was fine,” she muttered finally, stilling her struggles for the time being. 

His scowl warned her of his displeasure at her answer.

He grabbed her chin again, forced her close to his face. “I shall have to try harder than ‘fine’.”

He tried to kiss her, but she squirmed, trying to escape. Unknowingly, her movements placed her knee between both his own, but she was hardly aware of the long, thick, and hard length her knee pressed lightly against. She had her hands pressed against his naked chest in her effort to escape when the absent of fabric between her palms and his flesh gradually filtered through her mind.

She froze and so did he as her hand began to explore the hard muscles of his chest and shoulders, grazing over a nipple. She heard his breath catch, and he shifted slightly beneath her. That hard rod pressed more firmly against her knee.

A memory of picking up his discarded clothes as he transformed into a dog entered her mind, reminding her of his state of undress.

Shocked, she gazed down at him. “You’re naked.”

“It appears to be so,” he answered carelessly.

All she could do was stare at him for long moments as the realization of being pressed so intimately to a naked man hit her. “You’re naked!”

“I believe we have already settled that point, aijin.”

His amusement didn’t seem to penetrate her shock as she lay still above him, on him.

Her eyes lowered, tempted to gaze at the flesh he so willingly flaunted at her. She only had a bare glimpse of his throat and collar bone before she clamped her eyes shut, denying temptation. She yearned to gaze upon his naked flesh, curious to see the male form, his body, but she feared his hold on her. If just a kiss could make her lose her senses, then she feared what seeing his nude body would do to her.

“Shy, aijin?” his voice taunted her in a husky whisper.

She cringed at the sound of his voice, a sinking suspicion settling in. She had woken in his arms. How had she gotten there?

“Sesshomaru? Did...did you sleep next to me? All night? Naked?” she squeaked the last word.

“Yes,” he all but purred next to her ear.

She squirmed, aroused but embarrassed. Her knee nudged that thick pole again. She just knew what it had to be, though she had never actually seen one with her own eyes, or felt one for that matter--until now. She quickly straightened her leg. Again she tried to push away from him.

Surprisingly, he let her escape.

She scampered off of him without opening her eyes and turned her back to him. She ran for the bushes saying, “I need a moment.”

Sesshomaru watched her flee with a grin, calling out to her retreating back, “If you need satisfaction, aijin, then there’s no need to hide and take care of your need yourself. I am more than willing to aid you in this.”

“I need to relieve myself!” she hollered back, disappearing from his sight.

“And I told you I can do that for you,” he called back, loud enough for her to hear.

“That’s not what I meant!”

Kagome was embarrassed to tell him she had to use the bushes, but what else could she say to get away from him? Besides...now that she was here, she might as well take care of business.