Kagome’s heart raced. Her palms misted as she clenched her fingers open and shut. She felt lightheaded, dizzy with agitation. She wasn’t even sure what the source of it was anymore, this roiling within her. It bubbled up through her chest, and she was laughing—laughing! “…No,” she gasped out, struggling to compose herself. “No, of

It might’ve seemed like he was extending her an invitation—granting her permission, even—but to Kagome’s hearing Sesshoumaru’s words had the smack of a challenge. At the sound, something like a switch flipped within her. A spark lit her eyes. A jolt of primal feeling stirred the cold, murky depths of her heart. She felt alive

“You ran rampant over my little brother, because he could not hold you in check.” The miko balled her fists to keep them from shaking. “My turn,” she said in a seething whisper, advancing upon him. “You’re a haughty, bloodthirsty demon with a woefully limited capacity for emotion.” Sesshoumaru’s gaze chilled, and Kagome considered it

Kagome’s face flamed as she shoved back from him. “I didn’t put on anything ‘for you’—if I want to dress sexy in my own house, that’s my right. And if you grab at me like that again I’m going to punch a burning hole through your cheek. Now get down,” she spoke through gritted teeth

Sesshoumaru’s knees hit the floor with a blinding flash. Beneath the tatami mats, Kagome could hear the sound of the wooden floorboards splintering outward from him still. The ends of her bangs ruffled as her breath escaped her in a huff. Well that was certainly a bit of overkill on her part—but perversely satisfying nevertheless.

Outside the house a light, sleeting rain was falling. Kagome screwed her eyes shut against it as she stepped out from beneath the awning. Still sitting hunched below the eaves, Kanako stared after her. Kagome could feel it, the galling intensity of that stare. “Kagome-sama…” “Don’t you dare speak to me after what you’ve done,”

Rin paled, drawing back as though she’d been slapped. Just as white and tense as she’d gone, Kagome went red and slack-jawed with fury. Her eyes cut like daggers to Kanako. There was no point in even attempting to refute what she’d said. Kagome’s own outraged reaction had been too swift and apparent to deny

Kagome halted in place. It was as if an invisible chasm had opened between them. Even if she’d wanted to reach out to Kohaku, she felt that she couldn’t. And so she turned and left. Sliding back the door, a touch of blood rushed to her cheeks as she saw Kanako crouched and shrinking on