Kagome’s wide eyes slid shut as she buried her hands in the long flowing silk of Sesshoumaru’s sleeves, her lips melding eagerly with his. He kissed her fiercely, hungrily, a small sound of pleasure escaping her when his rough tongue broke past the seal of her lips and swept possessively against her own. Shyly, she traced the smooth curve of a fang, and he half-growled, half-groaned into her open mouth, the points of his claws pricking the skin of her lower back even through the thick, heavy wool of her sweater.

He tasted musky, wild, her lungs drowning in his rich masculine scent as she struggled increasingly to breathe. His grip tightened in her hair, insistent claws tilting her head farther back as he deepened his assault, his fangs crushing bruisingly against her tender lips, clashing against her own blunt teeth until every inch of her mouth was hot and aching and raw.

Desire bled through her, despite the undercurrent of anger in his actions. When at last he drew back, she licked cautiously at her swollen lower lip, the sharp, unmistakable tang of copper striking her tongue.

Her blood was on his mouth as well, his gaze cool and collected as he banished it with a claw. “What was it you wanted to say?”

Kagome stared at him, her chest and face still flushed with heat as she fought to bring her breathing back under control. But like flipping a switch, he was perfectly composed–looking for all the world as if he hadn’t just had his tongue shoved halfway down her throat. If she ever managed to figure Sesshoumaru out, Kagome decided, it would only be because she’d gone as psychotic as him.

“Um…” she began without much success, pawing ineffectually at her tangled hair. “What I was going to say…wait, what is it I was going to say?” she mumbled to herself as his youki simmered with impatience. “Oh, we–that is, I think–we figured out what Naraku’s and Mouryoumaru’s next moves will be.”

As coherently as she could, Kagome recounted her lunchtime discussion with Sango and the others–the first part of it, at least. Taking a deep breath, she considered how best to paraphrase the rest.

“…And so, since it seems like Mouryoumaru will be going after the remaining Jewel shards, our best bet is to beat him to the punch. As it turns out,” she ventured hesitantly, “I’m pretty sure I know where two of them are.”

Sesshoumaru’s gaze sharpened at her tone. Inwardly, Kagome cringed.

Not exactly a promising start, she lamented to herself.

“And where is that?” he demanded.

She cast him a sidelong glance. “…Do you happen to know a guy named Kouga?–he’s the leader of the eastern wolf demon tribe.”

“I know of him,” Sesshoumaru answered, his gaze sharpening further still.

“W-well, assuming nothing’s changed, he has two Shikon shards in his possession–one in each leg.”

“You are suggesting we kill him and take the shards,” the daiyoukai presumed flatly.

“No!” Kagome exclaimed in horror. “That’s not at all what I was suggesting! He’s a friend.”

“A friend,” Sesshoumaru repeated witheringly, advancing on her with a glare that could have cut through solid stone.

Retreating a step, Kagome nodded quickly. “Yeah–Inuyasha and I helped him out a while back.”

The daiyoukai paused, considering. “So, this wolf is in your debt.”

“U-um, not exactly…but, I think if I can explain the situation to him, there’s a good chance he’ll join up with us. He has a grudge against Naraku as well.”

“And if he does not?” Sesshoumaru questioned lowly.

Kagome brought her fingers together nervously. “H-hopefully, it won’t come to that…but, Sesshoumaru, just so you know, Kouga-k–Kouga,” she corrected hastily, “is operating under some, er, false assumptions…”

Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed. “What assumptions?”

“Ah, well…”

As Kagome tried to find the words that would result in the fewest possible number of casualties, an excited cry rose up from the opposite edge of the clearing. Together they turned as Rin and Shippou sprinted toward them.

“Sesshoumaru-sama!” the little girl beamed, going at once to her guardian’s side. “Rin is so happy to see you!”

“Sango-chan sent us to fetch you,” Shippou explained to Kagome, crossing his arms over his chest. “She’s invited everyone over for dinner since you’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Is that so.”

Kagome tensed at Sesshoumaru’s frigid tone, shooting him a small, apologetic smile. “I was just getting around to that part…”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi