AN: Hey friends! I know, I know. Finally, a new chapter! Sorry it took so long. Life and such. Hope you enjoy. This chapter is a bit lighter.

He'd Much Prefer An Indignant Miko

Sunlight filtered softly between the wispy branches of the willow as they swayed gently in the warm breeze that floated past. Kagome's eyes opened slowly, taking in her surroundings carefully as the events from the night before rushed through her mind with startling clarity. Staring up at the ceiling of the cozy wooden structure she was lying beneath, she remembered the way she'd felt as she walked through Sesshomaru's gardens.

For a moment, she wanted to laugh when she recalled how upon seeing him in his onsen, bathed in silver moonlight, she'd thought he was a god. She couldn't laugh, however, because the memory – though not nearly as brilliant an image as the reality – did, indeed, paint him as a god amongst the moonlit background.

He had been beautifully breathtaking, and despite his terrible personality, she couldn't brush that one thought from her mind.

Shifting slightly against the cushions, she realized for the first time that she way lying flush against the demon lord himself and stilled as she peeked carefully over at him.

How in the world had she not noticed he was there?

He seemed to be fast asleep, eyes closed and soft breaths lending him an air of softness that he wouldn't have had otherwise.

All of her emotions from the previous night came flooding back and for a moment she stared at him, abundantly confused. Somehow she had seen through his frigid visage and had taken it upon herself to offer him some sort of comfort – and with her body no less.

Was she insane?!

But…she couldn't deny that she'd enjoyed herself far more than she would've ever expected to. The daiyoukai sleeping soundly beside her was most definitely a good lover. For a split second, she wondered if she'd ever get to experience his passion in such a way again, then her eyes widened as an image of Inuyasha flashed through her mind and an overwhelming guilt settled within her gut.

Carefully extracting herself from her captor – he was her captor, after all – she sat up and got a better look around. It had been dark when he had led her to her current place, but she thought that she could vaguely recall the direction they'd come from and, holding an oversized pillow tightly to her bare chest, she began to walk gingerly in the direction she felt the onsen was.

Brushing past a stunted, though lush, maple tree, she reached out with one hand to brush her fingers softly against the tapered, maroon leaves. Everything had felt so…strange the night before. So…unearthly incredible, as if she were on another plane entirely. Wandering through another dimension where gravity was defied, and science held no bearing on life.

It had been such a spiritual experience for Kagome, and she had never felt so close to her reiki before. For the first time, she'd felt as if she held complete control over the gift the gods had bestowed upon her.

She couldn't make sense of it. What was so different about this place from any other place she'd been? Why had she suddenly been so connected to nature and energy?

And why had she felt the intense urge and longing to make Inuyasha's cold-hearted half-brother feel loved?

Nothing made sense to Kagome in that moment, and while thoughts continued to swirl about in her mind, one thing was very clear to her.

She didn't regret what had happened.

Sure, she felt guilty. She'd never hurt Inuyasha intentionally – she loved him; he was one of her dearest friends – and she feared that if he found out what happened, he'd be devastated. He'd surely feel betrayed.

Sighing, she shoved past the negative thoughts, deciding to pick them apart later. The air had warmed around her and focusing her eyes ahead, she took note of the onsen coming up on her right.

It appeared just as she remembered, and flashes of the nights events burned her cheeks. Glancing into the heated spring, she could just make out her purple kimono resting heavily at the bottom with the smooth rocks. She needed something to cover her body, but how badly did she want to put on a sopping wet kimono that was sure to be incredibly heavy?

Well, Kagome thought, it beats walking through Sesshomaru's court in my birthday suit…

Heaving a sigh, she glanced around, deciding that she may as well rinse off while she was in there. Dropping the pillow, she eased her sore body into the hot spring, allowing it to soothe her raw skin.

A good lover he may be, but he was also demanding and insatiable. He certainly held no qualms against taking as he pleased. Though, that should hardly surprise her.

Brushing a finger gently across the small cuts in her backside from his claws, she moved her hands down to softly caress herself between her thighs. The memory of him taking her, though sore, caused renewed warmth to rush through her.

Distressed, she viciously squashed her wanton emotions, scolding her traitorous body. Quickly rinsing herself in the water, she fished around with her foot until she caught her kimono and dragged it up to her hands.

She was right…the dang thing was absurdly heavy, full of water as it was. Lifting it with both hands, she threw it over a dry rock thinking she could at least wring some of the water out before putting it on, when she spotted a structure a little further up the path she'd been walking. She could just barely make it out through the break in the foliage, but had she been looking up over the trees, she'd have been able to see it clearly as its traditional pointed roof jutted upward toward the sky.

Finishing swiftly in the spring, she did her best to wring the water from the kimono and put it on, leaving the abandoned cushion at the edge of the waterline and headed curiously toward the building. If Sesshomaru had been bathing in the onsen, it was likely his to use privately and settled within a private garden. Using that information, Kagome deduced that the structure ahead may very well lead her to his room and since she had left him sleeping soundly somewhere behind her, she thought that maybe it was safe to snoop.

At the very least, she could trade her soggy kimono for a dry one and then find her way back to her own space.

Nearing the building, she pushed her senses out, feeling for other auras.

"Please be empty, please by empty," she whispered as she stepped onto the porch, and satisfied that there was no one else around, she nodded and walked confidently through the open shoji.

And into a room that legitimately shocked her.

"No way…" She breathed, wide-eyed as she surveyed the room she found herself in.

The room was finished in a dark cherry wood and deep red silks draped over the raised futon. There was a square irori set in the floor in the middle of the allotted space – large enough to keep the room warm in the winter – and thick fur rugs sprawled across the floor, strategically placed for comfort.

Something caught her eye and she blanched, finally understanding what the random hooks in her wall were for. Thick rope, leather whips and manacles hung from several of the hooks, while other strips of thick leather connected from one hook to another in four places – almost as if to entrap the limbs of a person and dangle them from the ceiling like caught prey.

Stepping carefully beside a small table, her fingers drifted over several peculiar looking items and she eyed them curiously as she fingered them.

That was until her brain caught up with her and she realized what they were for.

"Ugh!"

Ripping her hand away, she rubbed her fingers vigorously against her damp kimono, hoping that the sengoku style sex toys hadn't been used – or at the very least, that they'd been washed afterward.

Surely, Sesshomaru didn't sleep in this room…at least not in the literal term.

Shaking her head, she decided she'd seen enough, and spotting the red tassels that typically signified a closet, she pulled the woven strands and the door swung open revealing several kimono. Breathing a sigh of relief, she grabbed the first one she touched. Discarding the wet violet kimono she currently wore, she shrugged into the oversized maroon material she'd swiped and tied its white obi into a quick knot around her waist.

Leaving the kinky sex room behind, she darted off the porch and tried to retrace her steps to get back to her room but paused as she passed the onsen again.

"Help him! Please, I beg of you!"

She hadn't been sure where the distraught voice had come from, but she'd heard it as clear as if someone had spoken from directly in front of her.

"I will." She had promised.

She remembered the distinct cry of one soul to another – Sesshomaru's dark and twisted spirit had beckoned to her purity, begging to be shown something so long denied. She still felt her determination to show him what it was to be loved, regardless of how strange it may be.

But how much of it had been her imagination? Had any of it been real? She'd felt herself become one with her reiki, truly intertwined for the first time, but was it possible to read a person's soul as she had his?

She didn't know the answer to that, but her indecision was quickly brushed aside as she remembered her feeling of destiny. She had been so certain the night before that it was, at least in part, her destiny to help Sesshomaru.

So, nodding firmly, she continued up the path, back to the pagoda she'd left the sleeping daiyoukai in earlier.

To her surprise, he was still there, lying amongst the sea of cushions, sleeping soundly. She'd have thought for certain that, given his personality, he'd be up before the sun. Had their vigorous night of love-making, she wondered with a blush, really taken so much out of him? She was sore, but she felt refreshed.

Suddenly slightly worried, she crept quietly closer to kneel beside him, hesitantly resting a trembling hand against his forehead. He wasn't feverish.

Pursing her lips, she withdrew her fingers and nearly had a heart attack when a clawed hand reached out to grip her wrist. Amber eyes opened slowly and pinned her in place.

For a long moment nothing was said as they stared intently at one another.

"Miko."

Releasing her wrist, he sat up, eyeing her warily, taking her in – though he wouldn't show his concern. How had he slept so soundly that he hadn't felt her movement as she removed herself from where she'd slumbered beside him?

"Um…" Unsure of how to start this awkward conversation, she licked her lips and said the first thing that came to mind, "You're naked."

Lifting a brow, his eyes trailed heatedly down her body, causing her to flush in a most becoming way.

"You are not," he said deeply as the events of the night prior filled him.

His cock twitched and he wondered if she was too sore to ravish once more. And then he wondered why the aches of her frail, human body should concern him. She belonged to him and would do as he commanded. If he wanted her body again, he'd have it.

However, at the thought of the sounds of her pleasure, he quickly decided that he much preferred them to the sounds of her crying or screaming – though they were close seconds.

Sesshomaru perhaps knew better than anyone that the differences between pain and pleasure were thin. Even anger was enough to make his dick hard when vented passionately enough. Violence often sent a thrill through him and he wondered how far he could push the little miko before she retaliated.

"I see you have made yourself at home," he said deadpan, eyeing the kimono she wore, "Though, I do not recall giving you the permission to do so."

"Whatever, Sesshomaru," she said, finding her indignation at her situation, "mine was drenched and it's not as if I can just walk around naked. You weren't using it. Besides," she sniffed haughtily, "I'm only borrowing it. You can have it back once I get another one."

Before she could blink, he was pinning her down against the cushions, hovering over her, his hair spilling around them.

Otherworldly amber eyes glared down at her.

"One day, miko, your disrespect shall surely get you killed."

"Well, if I'm stuck here with you, let's hope it happens sooner rather than later!" She spat, her glare just as angry as his own.

She knew what she was saying would likely sign her death certificate, but she couldn't help her irritation at his rude behavior. She wouldn't even be there if it wasn't for his weird henchman kidnapping her and dragging her there unwillingly. And then he, himself, had refused to release her. So, as far as she was concerned, he could either accept her prickly attitude or send her on her way – from the fortress or from the world, either would do at the moment.

"That can be arranged," he growled, his face mere inches from her own now.

This close to him, she could see the darker flecks of gold against the brilliant amber of his irises, even as they glared at one another. Recalling her reason for coming back to him, she allowed her face to relax and took a deep breath, her irritation melting away.

"You know," she started in a soft, conversational lilt, a smirk pulling at one corner of her lips, "you're much prettier when you don't glare."

His glare only became more fierce and he opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off as she continued.

"About last night…" She trailed off, feeling her face flush as curiosity sparked in his eyes, his glare softening.

"Yes?"

"I, um…I don't know why I – I've never…"

Not sure what to say, she averted her eyes only to be graced with an eyeful of a very bare daiyoukai as he leaned back, kneeling between her spread legs.

"Do you find yourself unsatisfied, miko?" He asked arrogantly, smirking as he drew a lazy claw down her clothed side, "Shall I give you a reminder of why you behaved as you did last night?"

Kagome gulped, trying to suppress the shiver he'd induced with his touch, her body clearly remembering the effect his hands had on it. Unwilling, as she was in the hot spring, she felt a warmth pool between her thighs, suddenly mortified when he inhaled deeply, and his smirk grew.

"It would seem that you do wish to be reminded." Sliding his fingertips along the bare flesh below her clavicles, he loosely gripped and parted the kimono she wore – his kimono, he noted once more – allowing himself a view of her breasts. "Am I correct, little miko?"

Unable – or unwilling – to deny it, she remained silent, staring up at him with wide eyes. She knew what her body wanted…but was what her body wanted the same as what her mind, her heart, wanted? Surely it wasn't – not in this case.

Yet…she could feel a need growing within her. A desire she'd never known before. It was desperate and hungry, yearning to be touched, to be sated. It made her feel simultaneously desirable and shameful for reasons she didn't quite understand.

She should stop him, she knew, even as his lips found themselves at her throat. She should stop him.

And yet…

The feel of his hand as it climbed slowly from her ankle upward sent a thrill through her. She felt bold and daring. She felt sinful in a decidedly delicious way.

"Who gave you permission to enter my chambers?" He demanded in a husky voice between the press of lips to mounds of flesh. "Wear my kimono?"

His right hand travelling steadily up her thigh, his left reached to untie the obi keeping his kimono secure, hiding her body from his voracious eyes. While he was loathe to admit that she looked divine in his kimono, he preferred her bare.

That he even had a preference should have astounded him, but the aroma of her arousal had clouded his senses. Her citrus scent mixed with the musky sweet perfume that emanated from her wet heat and for a moment his vision blurred with the intensity of his desire.

"D-does it matter?" She breathed, trembling beneath him as her own desire grew.

His claws brushed the top of her thigh before his hand shifted and found the glistening moisture at her core. Brushing the pad of his thumb over her sensitive knot he relished in her reactions to him.

"Perhaps, little vixen, this One desires you without such barriers."

Sometime later, Kagome found herself exhausted and hungry. Even more sore, she found herself experiencing a level of relaxation she'd never known, and that almost made it worth the discomfort she felt acutely between her thighs.

Sesshomaru, finally sated, had allowed her to find her way back to her room – still in his kimono – but not before making a comment that had her thoroughly confused. As if she could become any more confused by her situation.

"I am intrigued, miko," he'd said as he stared lazily at her from his mound of cushions, "Last night, I had thought for certain that your odd inhibitions were the results of a drug-induced haze. It appears I miscalculated, as you lacked reserve in a very similar way today."

The subtle smirk on his lips; the amusement in his eyes…

Still, those confused her less than his words.

Drug-induced haze? She wondered as she plopped down on the bed in her 'room'. What drugs? I've never touched a drug in my life.

Thoughts swirled through her mind as she flipped over to lay on her back, the sleeve of Sesshomaru's kimono catching her eye. Fingering the material, she sighed, wondering how she ended up in the mess she was in.

Inuyasha…

A wave of guilt crashed over her and for a moment she wondered how she'd ever face him again.

No!

She couldn't think that way. She'd made a choice – an adult choice – and she had to live with it. She'd have to live with whatever consequences that came with her actions.

Stomach rumbling, she glanced over at the table. A tray of food sat upon it, and Kagome sat up to inspect it. Lifting a lid from the bigger bowl, rice and what appeared to be mixed vegetables – chopped radishes, she thought – were contained within. Peering closer in the dim light, she could make out small cuts of something light brown.

Mushroom.

Lifting another lid, she was happy to see a warm, albeit plain, broth of some kind. She wasn't sure who was cooking the food or under what guidelines they were doing so, but as her stomach protested once more, she decided that though she should be wary she'd already eaten the food once before and survived.

What was once more?

Pouring tea from the small pot that accompanied her meal, she took a small sip before digging in to her rice.

She felt strange.

Blinking, she shivered as a chill ran down her spine before a flush of heat rushed through her. Feeling somewhat caged, she pulled her kimono – cream colored this time, with random patterns of pink peach blossoms – more tightly around her and left the room behind.

Wandering around Sesshomaru's fortress, she smiled politely at the random youkai who passed her. They ignored her but she wouldn't let their shunning bring her down. Spinning in a circle, she threw her arms out, feeling the sun warm her skin. A smile spread over her lips before a small laugh escaped.

Hearing a vaguely familiar sound, she paused a moment before allowing her steps to take her toward the noise. Curiosity filled her as she climbed a short set of stairs to stand before a large building built in the traditional way that was lacking in her own era. Continuing along the path, she stopped at the base of the stairs that would lead her onto the covered engawa that wrapped around the structure.

White panels served as placeholders for windows and a single door in the center of the building.

Tilting her head, her ears picked up a swish, a thunk and what she could only describe as the sound of self-satisfaction.

Grinning, she bounded up the stairs to the porch before sliding the door open a fraction to peek inside. Perhaps she was being nosey, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She was curious by nature and considering she had been an unwilling participant in her abduction, she thought that the people here would just have to deal with it.

She thought that, and yet what she saw behind the panel she opened, she was unprepared for. Eyes widening, she barely noted her own motions when she pushed the screen open further.

"Wow," she breathed, entirely enthralled by Sesshomaru as he flashed across the large, open room, dominating the area with his presence as he did most everything else.

Aware of his audience, he stepped into his next kata, slightly annoyed with the interruption. Deciding to simply ignore the miko's presence, he continued his training, stepping fluidly and rapidly into the next form.

The sound of clapping brought him to a sudden halt, and he sent a glare in her direction.

"Why are you here, miko?" He demanded in a hard tone, hoping to scare her away, "You are disrupting this One's training."

She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

Lifting a surprised brow at her, he turned to face her completely, wondering if she'd been injured. Hit her head, perhaps?

"You're really good at that," she said as she stepped into his dojo uninvited and looking up at him with large, beseeching eyes, "Teach me!"

He looked at her blankly as she clutched her dainty hands together in front of her.

"Have you sustained a head injury?" He asked blandly, "This Sesshomaru does not have the time nor the inclination to teach you such things."

She huffed, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Fine then," she said, her arms crossing over her chest, unwittingly pushing her breasts up, "I'll just watch."

Sesshomaru's eyes wandered down to her very slightly exposed cleavage before they flicked back up to her eyes.

"And tell me, miko," he drawled, leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, "Who gave you allowance to do so?"

Kagome observed him for a moment. Scanning him from head to toe, she giggled once more when he eyes landed on his crossed ankles. She couldn't recall ever seeing him so seemingly relaxed.

It was kind of…cute. And refreshing. It made him seem more…approachable.

Suddenly, she felt that much closer to him.

"You know, Sesshomaru," she said softly, leaning toward him slightly, "It wouldn't kill you to lighten up a bit."

Her comment sent a shock of irritation straight through him and he stiffened, sending her a glare.

"You dare to insult this Sesshomaru in his own home?" He demanded in a tight voice.

She actually had the audacity to reach out and touch him. First she laughs at him then she takes special liberties with his person?

Sesshomaru had to fight the urge to backhand the small female.

"I wouldn't dream of it," she said, giving his wrist a soft squeeze, "I simply meant that it might do you some good to have a little fun. Not take everything so seriously."

The smile she gave him then did little to alleviate his irritation. But he found that perhaps she hadn't meant to insult him after all.

"You would do well to consider your words more carefully in the future."

For reasons unknown to the daiyoukai, what he said threw the miko into a fit of laughter that had her doubled over and clutching her stomach. It didn't take him long to realize what might have happened.

"Miko, tell this One: have you taken your midday meal yet?"

Gasping for breath, she straightened and wiped her eyes before nodding up at him.

"Yes. Not long ago," she said, then a mischievous look crossed her face and she smirked, "Why, Sesshomaru, did you want to share your lunch with me? I mean…it would only be right. After all, I shared something with you."

She delivered her last line with what he imagined was supposed to be a seductive wink. Blinking down at her, he fought the urge to laugh at her.

"No, miko," he said in a carefully bored tone, "This One has no desire to share a meal with you. You on the other hand, seem bound and determined to remain near." Leaning closer to her, his lips brushing her ear, he said softly, "Did this One not thoroughly satisfy you this morning?"

Her soft gasp brought a smirk to his lips and he drew back in time to watch a delightful red flush her cheeks.

Wide, blue eyes gazed up at him, not bothering to hide neither her embarrassment nor her arousal. Then she did something that surprised him yet again.

Leaning toward him, she inhaled deeply before sighing in contentment.

"You smell nice," she said with a small smile, then as if she had a revelation she straightened and lifted her arm to her nose, sniffing her own skin, "I smell nice!"

Letting go of an amused huff, Sesshomaru got back to his point before she could make a bigger fool of herself.

"You have ingested magic mushrooms," he told her bluntly.

"I – what?"

Her brows dipped together, and he had the intense urge to flick her in the forehead. Of course, he kept his hands to himself.

"Magic mushrooms, miko," he repeated with a sigh, "They have been mixed in with your food at my instruction. It would appear they have had the desired effect. You are much more tolerable when you are not fighting."

He watched in fascination as her face slowly relaxed and she looked at him as if she were bored.

"Are you saying that your drugged me?" She asked, her quiet monotone a sharp contrast to what it had been moments before.

Not quite understanding her terminology, he remained quiet, watching for any sign of her response to what he'd revealed. It came suddenly, out of nowhere, and surprisingly violent for one so small.

"You drugged me?!" She screamed, her face flushing in anger and her chest rising and falling with her quickened breaths, "Why you – you – you son of a bitch!"

Gasping at her foul language, her eyes widened, and she slapped a hand over mouth. A breath later, she burst into another bout of laughter and Sesshomaru found himself sighing once more.

Perhaps he should inform his kitchen staff to lighten up on the mushrooms. While easier to manage in this state, she was also significantly more annoying.

Deciding that his training was a lost cause for the moment, he turned to leave the dojo, trying to tune out the laughing miko behind him.

Yes, he thought as he stalked toward the kitchens, he'd much prefer an indignant miko to an irrational one.

A smirk came to his lips as he wondered at her reaction to the mushrooms. How would she react once the effects had worn off and she was of sound mind once more?

He wasn't sure, be he discovered he was eager to find out.