The Red Hunger

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Chapter 2

Two days. It had been two days since the 'Incident.' Kagome had done as Sesshoumaru had asked - no commanded - she had quickly gone to bathe in the stream, scrubbing her skin until it was raw. As if that could erase the memory of his hot mouth slooowly pulling at her over sensitized skin.

The biggest shock had come when she had finished washing and looked into the placid water. There, on her neck, was a HUGE bruise. Oh… God…Sesshoumaru gave me a hickey!

After she finished hyperventilating, Kagome took her red uniform scarf and tied it snugly around her neck, grateful that it was autumn and turtleneck shirts could be worn without suspicion. Or even her new kimono. She had been meaning to wear it for a while; it was Sango's birthday gift to her. She had called it a 'fighters kimono.' It looked just like her own, it was a tight black sheath that buttoned up the front, with two side leg slits that would have been indecent if not for the beautifully embroidered leggings that completed the outfit….but best of all it had a high collar !

Oddly enough both the 'bruise' and her shoulder wound healed at an abnormally fast rate. By now they were almost gone. Kagome could not say the same for the way her skin ached at the mere thought of Sesshoumaru.

She had returned to the village to find Kaede about to begin dinner, and quickly apologized using the soon to be familiar excuse of “forgetting the time while bathing.”

There was a brief moment when Kagome's heart stopped beating. Inuyasha carefully sniffed the air, and turned concerned golden eyes to her shoulder. "Kagome when were you hurt?"

O.K Kagome here goes…don't fidget!! " Oh that? I fell when I was running away from you and Sesshoumaru. Don't worry it's not serious, I barely feel a thing." Lucky for the miko she was talking to a hanyou, and not a full youkai that would easily smthe the lie and Sesshoumaru’s faint scent. "Mou, it ripped my last uniform shirt badly. I finally have a reason to wear Sango's birthday gift!!" With that last excited statement, Kagome grabbed Sango and the Kimono, racing into the back room to change.

Inuyasha's ears flattened and Shippo was startled awake by Sango's squeal, "Oh Kagome….you look …. BEAUTIFUL!"

Indeed she did, the fathomless black of the Fighters Kimono made her look ethereal, and its clean lines accentuated her newly bloomed curves. Miroku flashed her a lecherous grin, ogling her breasts. Happy with this reaction Kagome turned to Inuyasha, only to find him gone.

Silence spread its sharp talons through the hut. It took but a moment for her to understand why…she now looked more like Kikyou than ever. It was fates cruel paradox, the older she became and more beautiful she grew ….her final form would always be that of Kikyou. It was an inevitability that Kagome had understood ages ago. But she also understood that she was not Kikyou. Even Kikyou herself realized that she was not Kagome, but for the resurrected golem of earth and clay the realization had come with a price. Ultimately leading to the understanding that she was desperately clinging to a long lost life.

In a surprising act, reminiscent of her former living state, Kikyou sacrificed her self herself to give Kagome the whole soul she would need to purify the Shikon, in hopes that when the time came she would defeat the growing specter that was Naraku.

Her death had left Inuyasha devastated as he watched the form of his love dragged to hell. In a show of respect for her final act they had buried her remains under the Goshinboku. As time passed it seemed as if Inuyasha had healed, and he and Kagome grew closer. Thus, Kagome had allowed herself to hope that one dayy woy would be together. But it seemed that the halfling's heart still bled for Kikyou.

In an attempt to break silences grip on their small group, Shippo launched himself at Kagome. "Okaa-san you look like a Princess!!" This comment elicited an indulgent grin from the miko.

"Oh really, and when did you ever see a Princess?!" replied Kagome. In response the Kitsune buried his head in the crook of her neck.

None but the monk noticed Kagome's wince at the pup's action.

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The Great lord of the Western Land was currently ransacking his library, for any and all information on what could be affecting him and the wen—no it is Kagome. At this point the search was proving fruitless. With each day that passed he felt a growing hunger building in him, and he frequently found himself pulling his thoughts away from the succulent miko. Even worse, the Taiyoukai swore that at night he could hear her moans as he tried to sleep.

But those were trivial worries, he had a much bigger problem, he –Sesshoumaru- was getting weaker. It was an anomaly that began shortly after the 'Incident' with the miko. As he waded through ancient scrolls, he could only come to the conclusion that this weakness was somehow connected to Kagome and her blood. This only caused the taiyoukai to search faster, I will not be dependent on a human!

So caught up was he in his thou, th, that he took no notice of Jakken creeping off with an armful of scrolls. Hai, Jakken must hide these, at least for now. Sesshoumaru-sama would not understand….he would try and kill the miko. This Jakken cannot allow that to happen. Yes, it would be better if at this time Sesshoumaru did not know.

If Jakken had stopped in his frantic scurry out of the library he would have noticed that suddenly, as if struck by a bolt of lighting, Sesshoumaru’s motions froze. If one looked carefully enough beads of sweat began to dot the Taiyoukai’s brow. Though his expression was chill as a winter morning, his tenseness gave the impression that the youkai was in the middle of a great battle. Then, coming to a sudden decision, the Great Lord was but a blur as he raced towards the Megami mountain range that edged the farthest borders of his land.

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Kagome looked up as the sun set between the spiraling peaks of the mountains in front of them. It was said that the Supreme God’s wife created them at the beginning of time. She sighed as the silver gilded clouds majestically shrouded the reddish orb. It looks just like Sesshoumaru’s eyes right before --- wait I am not thinking about him!! Once again Kagome struggled to get her thoughts out of the snare that was Sesshoumaru. It had become an appallingly frequent event in the last couple of days.

They had recently set off from Kaede's village to continue tracking Naraku. Inuyasha believed that he was currently hiding in the Northern Lands. It would be a hard trek through the mountains, taking at least a week. Thankfully, the Northern Lands were said to have a special resort for miko's. Maybe if she begged Inuyasha enough he would let her stop there for a while as the rest of the group enjoyed the surrounding village that catered especially to weary travelers. Hmm, maybe if I tell him that some relaxing would make me stronger. Hmmmm.

"Hey, this is as good a place as any to spene nie night," Inuyasha impatiently barked out. As the others began to unpack, Kagome placed the snoozing Shippo in the hollow of a tree.

"Inuyasha is there a place to bathe around here?"

"Just keep walking straight, it is five minutes away. You had better hurry back and make dinner wench."

Kagome ignored the hanyou‘s comments. "Sango du wau want to come with me?"

"No Kagome, I don’t think that bathing every day is healthy, I'll help Miroku start the fire." Kagome snorted, rolled her eyes, and started toward the spring.

After a brief walk she was pleasantly surprised to find a bubbling spring invitingly laid out before her. Ah, the perfect place to relax and forget about …..things! Relax she did. The bubbling waters brushed all thoughts out of her mind, giving her a beleaguered a b a brief respite.

After letting the waters work their magic on her sore muscles, Kagome realized she left her shampoo near the shore. With a groan she stepped forward, only to slip on a mossy rock and careen into a nearby boulder. She stared in shock for a few minutes as blood dribbled down her hip diluting once it hit water.

"Ouch!! Damned rock!!" She rubbed her stinging side and bent to look at the scrape on her hip, but was stopped by something holding her by her hair. She looked up into eyes so red a rose would cry out in jealousy. Sesshoumaru.

Kagome battled all instincts to scream and run, knowing that his demon had control and running would only rile it further. Tears pricked her eyes, as he pulled harder at her hair causing her to bow backwards. He lowered his head and snuffed at her neck, giving it a small lick. His hands traced down her waist, stopping at the small of her back, as his mouth went lower still, following the curve of her hip.

Kagome stiffened as he knelt in the water, a looking for the entire world like a Lancelot paying homage to his Guinevere. Kagome mentally strained against the growing tide of pleasure, her body had long since give up the battle, becoming sanguine at his merciless touch. Her breath came in timed pants with each draw from his mouth, as he latched onto the cut at her hip.

Apparently, for the Western Lord, she was not bleeding fast enough for him. Kagome was given a seconds warning when she felt his fangs scrape against her hip, right before he plunged them fully into her. Kagome sunk her own teeth into her bottom lip, unprepared for the white-hot heat that ripped through her.

Under this barrage of sensations her mind gave into the white fog of pleasure that had been consistently nipping at her consciousness. Her knees crumpled, allowing Sesshoumaru to nudge them both to e, we, where he could gain a better purchase on her body.

Eventually after his hunger had begun to recede, Sesshoumaru became more aware of his actions. He straddled her, beginning to slowly lap at her sweet mouth. As he did so, his mind processed the situation they were in. Apparently her blood had called to him again…. from a couple of hundred miles away. With that thought he moved his gaze upward, to meet the startled cerulean eyes of very confused Kagome.

"It – seems- that – we – have – a problem." With each word he paused to nibble and lap at her lip. If his face could show expression, he would have been amused at the color of her cherry red cheeks.

"Ah…errrr….is there away that you could….ummm…hehe..uh, remove your…umm…."

Kagome's gaze flicked downward, and Sesshoumaru realized that one hand was kneading her inner thigh, while the other was rather possessively stroking a nipple.

Ah, no wonder she was so red. As if the fact that he was straddling her naked body, after having reduced her to a quivering jumble was not enough to make a girl blush.

"So could you move it?!"

"No." Hmmm, it appears as if she can blush harder…she is as red as a cherry. Kagome bucked her hips in a fruitless effort to unseat the imperious youkai. "I would suggest you stop doing that Ka-go-me."

"Look Se-sshou-maru," she began through grd ted teeth as she defied law and became even redder, "we need to talk about what is happening…..I wont be able to pay attention if you …if we are still like this." He stared at her for a moment before quickly standing. Kagome made a mad dash, swooping up her Kimono and racing behind some bushes. As she dressed, she asked, "Do you have any idea why is happening?"

"I was unable to discover why we are being affected like this."

"Could it be a curse?"

"No, I would be able to smell it."

"Oh…..I….I am not quite sure what it does to you. I know what happens to me once you…er…you start to…….touch me. But I don't know why you arrive in the first place."

"You blood…it calls to me." It sings. At this point Kagome stepped out from behind the bush in her black Kimono, only to wish she hadn't when faced with Sesshoumaru’s icy amber glare. He looked her up and down, "the Hanyou allows his woman to dresse a e a whore?"

"I am not Inuyasha's woman!!!"

A wicked smile briefly flickered across the youkai's face, as he raised his blood stained nails to his mouth. In a manner reminiscent of a porn star Sesshoumaru erotically flicked his tongue along the top of each claw. When done he paused thoughtfully and drawled, "Yes, I can tell you are still untouched." Had Kagome not been in shock, and doing a rather good impression of a ripe tomato, she would have noticed the uncharacteristic satisfaction that accompanied that statement.

Eventually his other comment filtered through her shock, " I AM NOT A WHORE!!!" Before she could even finish the last syllable, Kagome found herself wedged between a rock and Sesshoumaru’s chest, with his face an inch away from hers.

"Silence woman. Do you want Inuyasha to come running?" This comment struck an odd note to Kagome.

"Wouldn't you want to hold this over Inuyasha's head?" He just stared. Great Kagome give the mass murderer another great idea!

" It seems that you do not quite understand the situation we are in miko. Right now you are a great liability for me. For some reason I crave your blood, and even the smallest of scrapes summons me from hundreds of miles away."

"Can't you stop yourself?"

" No, the merest scent of you blood brings on my blood beast."

"Your what?" This warranted a somewhat contemptuous glare from Sesshoumaru.

"My demon is summoned by your blood, and does not recede until it has fed off of you…and only you. I am not myself when this occurs. You humans have another version of it, berserker. It happens when your warriors battle for too long ne?" A small nod from a mute Kagome allowed him to continue, after all he did not want to have to repeat himself. It was imperative that the miko understood the web they were both caught in. " I am surprised you were not killed the first time it occurred. It seems as if my beast understands that it needs you alive. This Sesshoumaru need you alive until a way is found to stop this. I was able to fight it until you bled again, but it made me weaker to resist. I cannot afford to be weak."

"What about me? This is insane, what do you want me to do -- sneak off once a day to feed you?!"

“Yes."

"What?" Kagome hissed out, blatantly aware of his claws pressing into her arm and neck respectively.

"And you will stop traveling with Inuyasha. It is too dangerous," this was said as he bent to lick at her cut lip that she had reopened in her nervous biting as she listened to Sesshoumaru talk.

"No, I can’t! I have to collect the shards! How would I explain that to Inuyasha?! Oh hi sorry Inu-chan, I have to stop searching…yeah ya know have to go feed your evil half-brother that has tried to kill us many times. Ta-ta."

"You will cease your sarcasm human. It is dangerous for you to travel. I cannot risk your life."

"Inuyasha is there to protect me."

A snort demonstrated the Taiyoukai’s feelings of that. “He could not protect his own tail."

"Inuyasha does not have a tail…Fluffy-sama." Said tail slithered up her leg and constricted around her thigh in warning. Kagome gulped.

" Very well then. How do you suggest we deal with this?"

"Eh….well if I know you are coming, then I can plan to take a bath…or something like that."

"And if you are accidentally cut?"

"I will not accidentally cut myself-- again." An elegant eyebrow raised in response.

Internally Sesshoumaru sighed in annoyance. Very well miko, we'll do it your way until it fails, and all comes raining down upon you. "At night find some time to yourself and go to a body of water, it will hide both of our scents, and then you can wash mine away. When you find water, summon me. The same holds if you are accidentally cut: run for water."

"If I am cut by mistake, why does it matter if our scent is covered?"

" It would be best if the least amount of people as possible know of our situation. I have many enemies, it would be easy for them to capture you when you were unprotected, and then use you against me."

"Oh….how do I summon you?" At this Kagome found herself presented with a deadly silver dagger, its hilt ended in a circle made of a Inu-youkai chasing a crescent moon. "Errr. What do I do with it?"

Sesshoumaru stared at her for a moment before answering, Obviously humans are slow learners. " Cut yourself."

"What? Where?"

"It is your decision where…but I suggest in a place that is not obviously seen." I wonder how she will disguise the smell of blood from Inuyasha.' With that thought he glanced at her lip, only to be surprised that it had already healed.

Kagome noticed his intense stare and touched her lip shocked to find it mended. Then she remembered her other injury. " I have been healing faster. But only at the places….umm where your mouth touched."

" My saliva contains a coagulant."

"Oh."

"Where are you and the Hanyou going?"

"To the Northern Lands. Why?"

"So I may hunt you down if you do not summon me." The Northern Lands….an unruly place. I will go see the Northern Lord and inform him of my presence in his territory. "Follow the rules we have set miko. Summon me by sundown."

With that comforting statement, Sesshoumaru raced off into the night, leaving an apprehensive Kagome in is wake.

Nothing in Kagome's life had prepared her for the predicament she was in. Over the years she had learned to fight and protect her self against various enemies, both physical and emotional……but this….this was new. What confused and terrified her the most were her own conflicting emotions. How could she want Sesshoumaru to touch her, when she loved Inuyasha. How could she betray him in such a manner?

The problem was that she was just as out of control as Sesshoumaru was when he claimed to be in 'Blood.' The minute he touched her, everything else melted away. The memory of Inuyasha's gentle kiss, the culmination of years of longing on Kagome's part, was viciously extinguished in the presence of Sesshoumaru’s touch.

Kagome wept at the irony. Just a few days ago, after his revealing reaction to Kagome in her new Kimono, Inuyasha had abruptly pulled her aside (blushing wildly), mumbled something about her being beautiful and had pressed a petal soft kiss to her mouth. It had all happened so quickly that Kagome was left thunder struck.

It was unfair that now even his kiss was being overshadowed by his older brothers touch. Kagome was no baka; she understood that in Inuyasha's eyes Sesshoumaru already had everything, while he had to fight for it. Sesshoumaru was a full youkai, he was not, Sesshoumaru instantly commanded the respect of all, while Inuyasha was spat upon and called hanyou.

Now…now Sesshoumaru had even managed to supercede the memory of his kiss. Emotions overwhelmed the miko as she halfheartedly undressed and sat in the spring to wash off the youkai’s smell, her salty tears intermingling with the cool spring water.

That was how Sango found her, brokenly sobbing knee deep in the spring.

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Miroku was worried. Kagome had been skittish lately. He couldn't quite put his finger on when it had begun, and if he had not been keenly observing her….uh….neck, Yeah that’s it! I was observing her bre….neck, he would have never noticed it.

First he had seen her wince when Shippo had nuzzled her collarbone. He'd brushed it off, but had then seen her limping very slightly the day Sango had brought her back, crying, from the spring. He would never forget the broken look in her eyes turn eerily resolute as she stared into the fire. Inuyasha had been too busy consoling her to notice the brief hardening of her gaze before she answered his questions.

"Why are you crying Kagome? What's wrong? Did something happen?!" His frantic queries seemingly snapped Kagome out of her doldrums, for she stopped sobbing and managed a watery smile.

"Oh I am being so silly Inuyasha, I am just afraid of my growing miko power. I don't know if I can handle it, and I am worried that I wont be much help fighting Naraku. It all just overwhelmed me at once. I am being such a ninny."

"Yes, you are silly wench!"

"SIT!"

Miroku had to give Kagome a hand; she was a very convincing liar. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became…Kagome had lied to them when answering Inuyasha. He did not doubt that the miko was worried about the issues she'd claimed— but he was sure they were not the reason for her tears.

After that she had begun to follow Kaede-baba's instructions to meditate once a day, which would help calm her and focus her miko powers. So Sango and Shippo started to leave her alone for a while after they'd bathed.

But that still did not explain the other things. One day he'd observed her flinching when Shippo had grabbed onto her wrist to tightly, and he had seen a healing cut. When he asked her about it she said it was one of a few that had happened when she ran from Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's fight a week ago. At the time he'd believed her since the cut did indeed look a week old.

Nonetheless, something told him took pay closer attention to the miko. As days passed he began to notice that sometimes she acted as if parts of her body were a bit sore. Parts that had not been hurt. For a few days it was her stomach, but Sango had caught him looking, called him a Hentai, and made him eat dirt.

After that Kagome seemed fine, until he saw Shippo nestle into her bosom one night as they were preparing for bed. She had only winced, but then blanched white when the kitsune asked,

"Okaa-san…you smell different."

"Yes, I am trying a new soap. Do you like it?"

"Hai. It smells …..like pine needles and ….roses!" Kagome had laughed at that point. Those events only confirmed what Miroku already suspected. Their Kagome-chan was definitely hiding something from them. But what?!

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The Red Hunger: Chapter 3 Preview

The serpent youkai picked Kagome up and tossed her into the muddy forest….. 'A bath? If she is taking a bath….why did she leave her pack here?'……Sesshoumaru stared contemptuously at the Northern Lord….." A mate. You are courting?" …..Jakken frowned, 'Why did they all insist on calling her human? Could they not see she was other?'

Title: Kagome Where are you

Author: Jeffs

Sess/Kag …….DUH people.

Arella1 you, I was so freaked…. Ah well the show goes on ne? thanks for the support.

Rain of Stars I think everyone loves Blood Beast-kun, he is adorable isn’t he? I have sooooo much fun writing him. I can’t wait till I get the chapters caught up, I love peoples reaction to his comments.

Lunabelle I sympathize greatly with you at the loss of a story. I wish they would tell you before they did it. Hmmm. Thanks for the suggestion!!

Uber Flirt thanks for your help…. If I ever run out of perverse thoughts I’ll drop you a line. I look forward to your ideas on the NC-17 version. I have a link posted below… so far no big changes though, I will definitely be upping the semi-sex scene I had already published, I am sooooo excited about it.

SonofZon really? Inspirational? I am so unbelievably flattered!! What stories do you write?

Yasmin I could have sworn your email was on my update list… umm I remember getting an email from you. Hmmmm, a mystery. Go to my author page there is a new address there if you need to contact me.

Savay thanks ever so very much for your support it is appreciated more than you know.

Echo the Insane you just have a nifty name and I wanted to tell you that.

Amreld err can you give me the link to your stories? I would love to read them, I was just confused as to where they could be found.

Ijin the only thing to say is thanks.

Rabid-inu-girl Ditto

S’revan I am so glad you noticed, yeah in the older version I only started doing that after people became confused. Is there anything you felt should have been changed or added to the old version, I would be happy for your input.