Thrill of the Hunt by Oniko

The Hunt

Disclaimer: Inu Yasha, Sesshoumaru and others are copyright of Rumiko Takahashi.

Author's note: This story is a PWP, 'Plot? What Plot?' and has no redeeming value, it's given a high rating for a very good reason, so if you find either sex or violence upsetting, please consider yourself warned and go read something else.

Thrill of the Hunt

By Oniko

Sesshoumaru stepped back from the drained and dead oni, blood dripped from his muzzle as he reveled in the feel of the earth beneath all four fully formed limbs. The healing spell that he uncovered serendipitously one evening restored him to perfect physical condition, with only a mildly irritating side effect of lower energy levels. Brief though it was he was almost sorry that it was over, he hadn't hunted like this in a very long time. He cast about him for his next prey. Two more kills, perhaps one, and he would be completely back to normal. Scenting a powerful youkai on the wind he picked up his pace. Perhaps he could be home in time to play with Rin when she awakens in the morning.

When the scent lead him into a densely forested area he shifted effortlessly to his humanoid form, wrapped in his pale kimono and demon-bone armor, in order to better pass unnoticed through the foliage. The youkai he found, some type of ghoul to judge by the scent of rotting meat and old blood, was already occupied with a human woman and had not yet noticed his presence. He smirked this was far, far too easy. His claws parted skin and muscle easily, his poison hissed softly as it ate away the flesh. The demon howled in pain, it spun to face him, the human forgotten on the ground.

Sesshoumaru smirked and licked the blood off of his claws. He stood his ground as the ghoul charged at him. Moving only at the last moment he twisted aside with one hand trailing behind, fingers curled slightly, and the lumbering moron's own momentum neatly disemboweled itself. He circled around the collapsed demon looking for the best angle to go for the kill when it staggered to its feet. Its energy flared intensely powerful and the deep wounds he had inflicted were already healing.

It smirked at him and charged again. This time he went straight for the throat. Still the creature healed the wound, almost as quickly as it was made. Its power was so thick on the air he could taste it like rancid blood.

"Hit the breastbone." A voice shouted from across the clearing. The human, he had almost forgotten that she was even there. "It's using a shikon shard to boost its powers."

Sesshoumaru snorted derisively, weaklings, he really should have expected no better. The ghoul turned and with a snarl pounced on the human girl. But before it could reach her Sesshoumaru was there, his claws punched through its back and burst out through the rib cage.

"One should never turn one's back on this Sesshoumaru." He advised the demon softly. The girl darted forward plucked a small shard from amidst its ruined chest. It howled in pain and loss and made a weak swipe at her with no hope of reclaiming its prize. The power around them shifting and changing, fading as the demon crumpled to the ground dead. Sesshoumaru growled softly in frustration. The energy gained from the kill was hardly worth the effort. It was all housed in that shard the human took. He turned to look at the girl who was standing a few feet away frowning at the little shard. Immense power fluctuated around the girl; dark energy and something purer spun the air around her. There was power enough that it almost took his breath away.

"Gross" she made a face at the shard and rubbed at it with the hem of her short...kimono. He frowned at her unusual manner of dress. Come to think of it there wasn't a human settlement around for miles. She held up the cleaned shard and whined at it. "There's demon gunk all over it."

He watched her as the power settled around her, matching her own aura and thrumming contentedly. He could feel it curling around him soft and welcoming. She placed the shard carefully in a small crystal container that had been hidden under the neckline of her clothes. Tucking it back in its place she turned her attention back to him.

"Thank you for your help, Sesshoumaru-sama." She bowed politely.

"I do not act for your aid." He replied, stepping closer and sniffed delicately to catch her scent. Should he know her from somewhere? She was acting unusually familiar. She smelled, mostly human of sweat, blood and tears, but the scent was light and notably not rancid or laced with shit and dirt as most humans were. A distinctly female musk, crushed grasses and leaves, she smelled of kitsune, cat, and...his brother. Of course, the priestess. "Where is my brother?"

"I was separated from Inu Yasha and the others by that thing." She nodded at the dead demon. "I don't know where he is but if you'll excuse me I'm sure he's worried about me."

She bowed again and cautiously backed up several steps before turning and walking away, now he could pick up her worry and fear. Her power which curled around him comfortably a second ago sparked and snapped at his dark energy which rose in response to the challenge. He wondered if she was aware how her power telegraphed her emotions to everything around her. He found himself pacing silently after her his pulse rising at the thrill of the chase. He had already eaten his fill this night, but there were many ways to gain power, and many hungers to feed.

She knew he was following; he could almost taste her pulse as she quickened her pace. He was careful to stay out of her direct line of sight but he knew that she could feel him as clearly as he could feel her aura. It didn't take long before she broke and ran. He restrained himself from the immediate chase, let her wear herself down, he would follow at his own pace it would end the same either way. He let himself fall further and further behind, he could no longer hear her crashing through the woods, and instead he relied on scent to track her through the forest.

She was a clever girl, he had to give her that much, well versed in the tricks of the hunted. She attempted to lose him by backtracking or circling around on her own trail. Not that it did her much good, he has been a skilled hunter longer then she has been alive. Slowly the gap between them that he allowed her was closed as her body tired and she was forced to slow.

Several hours into their game and her trail was broken by a stream, he could hear the crashing of water upstream and judging by the angle of entry she probably headed that way. Turning to follow, he soon found himself in a dead end gully. The cliff face was sharp and steep, he could scale it with ease but the human girl would be faced with several difficulties. The gully was riddled with small caves and crevices; some were partially covered by a series of small waterfalls. It would take him hours to search each and every possible hiding spot by sight alone, the crash of the falls would cover the sound of her breath and movement and the water masked her scent. Instead he relaxed and let his energy expand and test the area around him, searching for her aura. Moments later he withdrew, gathering his power back to himself and turned away from the falls. Clever girl, tricking him into wasting his time here while she escaped downstream. Now he took off a faster pace. Her energy was flagging badly as exhaustion took its toll. The game was almost at its end.

He found her moments later, she had left the stream and was running through the deep woods heedless of noise or tracks left behind her, she had to know the moment she felt his power that he would find her. He matched her pace behind her. Turning to look she made a misstep that sent her crashing to the ground. He could smell her blood on the air, sharp and metallic. She whimpered slightly and tried to get up but her legs collapsed out from under her. He knelt down beside her as silently as he had followed her. She flinched away from him but was too exhausted to do more. He lightly ran his hand up her leg from calf to thigh, feeling her muscles quivering under the calloused pads of his fingers. He lifted her chin to look at him and leaned forward until their faces were barely an inch apart.

"Get up." He commanded.

"Can't." She panted, leaning back further away from him, trying to get away even in the little, shaky movements her tired body allowed her. He leaned forward as she leaned back until he had her pinned on the ground underneath him.

"Run." He whispered into her ear and licked at a droplet of sweat on her delicate skin. He could taste the salt on her skin and the pulse at her throat. The slightest careless nick of fang or claw and her heart's blood would be spilling on the ground around him. The thought excited him, set his pulse racing almost to match hers.

She shivered, not entirely in fear, as another scent was added to her heady perfume. "Can't." She whispered again.

"Good." He murmured against her skin. Turning her head to face him, he licked at her mouth tasting the sweet juice of some fruit that she had eaten last. She gasped and tried to push him away, torn and bloody palms pressing into his armor. He growled softly leaned back. He wanted to feel her hands on him directly, not on armor or cloth. He made sure that she was securely pinned by his legs straddling her hips before completely releasing her to remove the armor and loosen his kimono.

She stared up at him with wide eyes and began to twist and trash under him. Her frantic movements caused her hips to brush against his inner thigh and the proof of his intent. Her eyes widened even further and a blush stained her cheeks as she froze. He leaned back down and ran his hand lightly down over her body, claws snagging on her clothes. He nipped and licked gently along her jaw line and ear as she inhaled sharply, sucking breath in between tightly clenched teeth, her breasts rising to fill his hands.

"Sesshoumaru, you don't want to do this." She whimpered slightly as his grip on her tightened, claws digging into breast and shoulder. "You despise humans, remember."

He snorted softly, his warm breath brushing against her cheek. "I despise the weak." He corrected her. "You are anything but weak. Aren't you, Kagome?"

She turned to look at him. "What?"

Her surprise relaxed her and he loosened his hold, he pulled her shirt away from her shoulder heedless of the ripping cloth and licked apologetically at the bloody weals his claws left in her skin. He carefully cleaned the small punctures of any trace of his poison before turning his attention to her breast, ripping at the layers of cloth that covered her chest. She placed her hands at his jaw and tried to pull his head up, smearing his cheeks with dirt and blood.

"What- how do you know?" He pulled his head back and sniffed at her scoured palm. Her skin was soft and he could only imagine how they had been before her fall but now were marred by a series of shallow seeping cuts speckled with black earth. He pushed himself back up, pulling one of her hands along with him, holding it to his mouth and carefully cleaning the small wounds, sometimes gently scraping fang or claw along her palm to free the ground in dirt. All the while watching her watch him and occasionally shiver at his breath on her wrist.

"Sesshoumaru?" She asked, softly.

"I know." He whispered roughly against her palm causing her to shiver. Finding the one to be acceptably clean he released it and captured the other. "I can feel your power burning in the darkness."

She blushed and shook her head once. "No, how do you know my name?"

He paused and looked at her curiously. "That is how you are addressed, is it not. I thought I'd heard my brother and the kit call you so." He sneered at the thought of his hanyou brother, lips curling back in distaste behind her palm. She blushed and turned her head away again, he could smelt the salt of tears though none fell from her eyes.

"Sometimes I wonder." She whispered. He gently nipped and licked her wrist; she jumped and looked back at him.

"What do you wonder, Kagome?" He asked softly as he resumed cleaning her palm.

"If anyone knows me, if anyone even sees me. They all think I'm just like her but when I'm not I've somehow failed. Not just Inu Yasha," he snarled softly at his brother's name, but didn't interrupt. Her blue eyes were unfocused and she spoke softly as if to herself. "But the villagers, and even Naraku too."

Finished with her hands he leaned down and licked at the single tear track that escaped her eye. The salt against her soft, sweet skin was exquisite. He lightly kissed her temple, cheek, jaw, and whispered in her ear. "Like who?"

He slowly slid his body down hers to find a more comfortable position to continue the work he had started earlier on her breast. She moaned softly, hands clutching at the pale cloth of his kimono, leaving bloody handprints in the fine silk. "Like Kikyo." She whispered.

He looked up at her face, eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Who?"

She laughed, a short, sharp, bark of a sound with the slightest edge of hysteria. He pulled himself up and nuzzled at her neck until she relaxed once again. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru." She whispered.

He made no reply but licked at her mouth again, this time she allowed entrance and he pressed his mouth to hers. Her arms hesitantly encircled him and he gently coaxed her into kissing him back. A careless movement and his fang nicked her lip flooding both of their mouths with blood. She whimpered and pulled back, her hand flying to her mouth as she gagged and coughed on the blood. He growled and, sitting back on his heels, pulled her up with one hand behind her head and one hand at her chin. He captured her lips and drank from her mouth. He held her in a firm grip until she ceased to struggle against him, then he allowed himself the luxury of running his hand through her hair and down her body.

She moaned softly at his touch and lightly ran her hands up his arms and across his chest, the cloth of his kimono parted easily at the slightest brush of her hands. His skin tingled at the soft touch of her fingers on his bare chest. She pulled back, jumping slightly at the contact. He snarled in protest at the loss, grabbing her hand he immediately pressed it back against his chest with a much firmer touch then she had used. He could feel every ridge and line against his hypersensitive skin. She brought her other hand up and placed it against his chest, mirroring the other. Her fingers slowly spread, exploring the smooth surface of his skin without moving from where they were placed.

He released her hand slowly laid her back down, lapping gently at the shallow graze on her lip, to be sure that it wouldn't begin bleeding again. She moaned softly and shifted under him, her hands sliding across his shoulders dragging his kimono open. He shifted his weight and gently easing his knee between her thighs opening her legs. She broke off the kiss, arching her back and throwing head back as pressed his knee against her. Her legs curled around his thigh and her fingers dug into his shoulders.

He pressed his face against her neck, inhaling the thickening scent of her desire. Settling himself fully between her legs, he nipped and teased at the soft skin of her breasts while working at removing the shredded remains of her clothing. Occasionally he would come across a tie, button or other strange latching devise, usually far too late for it to be put to any useful purpose. He was easily divested of his own clothing, however strange her own may be she was at least familiar with the multiple layers involved in a kimono.

At the first full touch of skin against skin her hesitation returned and she started to pull away again. He bit the juncture between neck and shoulder, not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to still her. He could feel her gasping for breath, her hands pushing him away but he would not be moved. He held her still with his tightening bite on her neck as his hands gently roamed over her body. Her skin was soft and slid like silk under the pads of his fingers, while occasionally his fingers would curl and his claws would slip against her skin leaving a trail of fine white lines behind them. The first time it happened he snarled at himself in rebuke but was surprised by her sighs and moans to find that she quite liked the light scratches across her skin.

Soon she had forgotten her own hesitation and was tracing the lines of his muscles with light touches of her own. He released her neck to once again catch her mouth, the metallic tang of blood still fresh on her lips. Holding her gently on either side of her face he thrust his tongue rhythmically in and out of her mouth as he rocked his hips against her. She whimpered and wrapped her legs around his hips trying to meet his rhythm. He could feel her power rising with her desire, bright and untainted unlike any other female he had ever been with.

Pulling back slightly he positioned himself at her entrance and eased into her. He closed his eyes, breath coming out in swift pants as he tried to maintain control; she was soft and slick, and so very, very tight. He rocked forward gently, working himself a little deeper with each thrust. Her breath came in short gasps at each thrust, her fingers tightening on his upper arms. He didn't realize what was happening until she cried out in pain and power exploded around them hot and bloody. Swearing profusely he pulled back as much as her grip on him allowed. He nuzzled her neck, nipping gently at the sensitive spot behind her ear and whispering soft apologies into her hair. As the wild power around them settled he began to be dimly aware of a dull pain in his arms and the smell of his blood as well as hers. Cradling her body carefully he untangle one arm from her grip. His upper arm was marred with tiny bloody half-moons.

"Sorry." She whispered her voice low and husky.

"Hmm? What for?" He asked and teasingly licked her ear. She giggled but quickly sobered, and reached out to gently trace around the marks on his arm. He could see that her thin, little claws had small traces of his blood on them. He brought her hand to his mouth and carefully cleaned each tiny claw. They may have been dull but were well cared for without any burrs or fractures. He approved, one should always take care of what weapons one has no matter how seemingly ineffectual.

As he finished cleaning both hands she pulled at him until he lowered himself back down to her and she kissed him carefully, shying away from his sharp fangs. He deepened the kiss and gently raked his claws down her body causing her to arch her back and gasp. A few light teasing touches and she seemed emboldened to gently explore more of his body then just his arms and chest, even going so far as to nip lightly at his neck with her dull fangs. His blood raced at the challenge and he growled softly pulling her hard against him.

Tightening his grip on her hips he neatly flipped them both over without breaking the kiss. She let out a small yelp of surprise she pulled back and blinked down at him with the most adorable look of utter confusion as she suddenly found herself straddling his hips with the cool night air brushing her exposed back. He smirked up at her and gently guided her hips into a smooth, rocking rhythm that allowed them to lightly rub against each other without fully touching. She gasped and moaned at the light teasing touches.

He could feel their power building around them again. His was warm and dark like a hot summer night hanging heavy on the air, surrounding them in a warm cocoon. Her power shone small and bright, a single wavering flame in the night, a pearl shining in a sunless sea. But it was growing. She tossed her head back and her hips bucked sharply against his hands, wanting more.

He stilled their movements and she whined in wordless protest but let him shift her position slightly. She gasped as he settled her fully onto him, her fingers dug into his shoulders but nowhere near strong enough to draw blood. He brought one hand to her shoulder slowly dragging his claws down her arm causing her to shiver in pleasure. When he reached her hand he gently pried her fingers from his shoulder and lightly kissed her fingertips before replacing it on his shoulder. Settling his hand once again on her hip he guided her into a gentle rocking motion, each movement guiding him deeper and deeper into her body.

She was still tight around him but they could move with ease. Gradually, he picked up their pace, breath panting in time to their movements. She moaned or gasped softly with each thrust and he slowly leaned her back without breaking rhythm or loosing her balance. With her hands balanced carefully on his stomach instead of her previous death grip on his arms he began to slide his hands along her body, paying especial attention to her more sensitive areas. He raked his claws down her sides and the backs of her thighs, using the pads of his fingers to tease and pinch her breasts. With one hand he carefully gripped her hip, once again guiding her movements, the other he gently slid between them and rubbed lightly at the sensitive skin there mindful of the sharpness of his claws. She threw her head back, muscles quivering in pleasure, her fingers curling and digging into his skin.

Once again she bucked against his hands but he was careful not to let her break her rhythm. He tightened his hold on her hip, claws digging in and drawing small ruby beads from her skin, she moaned again a shiver running up her whole body. "Please." She begged her blue eyes dark and heavy lidded.

"Patience." He whispered, using all of his iron self control to maintain the gentle movements and light touches when his own instincts were screaming at him to hurry. He was almost at the end of his own patience when her soft gasp was all the warning that he had. Her body clenched around him and her power flooded through him. It was like drinking fresh snowmelt, cold and clear, driving the breath from his lungs as it poured through his body. After the initial crashing wave of power faded, and he could once again breathe, he found his energy levels completely restored and his dark strength curled tightly around a well of pure crystalline power. Kagome had collapsed against his chest, muscles twitching occasionally from aftershocks and her breath ragged and warm on his chest.

He brushed a sweat soaked fringe of hair off of her forehead and kissed her lightly. She murmured incoherently in response and tried to huddle closer as a cool night breeze brushed along her overheated skin. He gently rolled them over onto their side, one arm cradling her against him, the other reaching for his kimono. He made an involuntary noise of protest as the movement caused him to slide from within her, still hard and aching. She whined at the movement but quieted as he gently nuzzled and nipped at her neck. He shifted her and fussed for a few moments longer until she was resting on her side with her head pillowed on his arm and he was curled along the line of her back, his kimono was tucked around the front of her that was exposed to the night air. He relaxed with his nose buried in her hair enjoying the smell of their mingled sweat and sex. After they had relaxed long enough for her muscles to finally stop quivering, he lightly scraped his claws along her stomach.

"You aren't falling asleep on me are you?" He asked softly.

"Yes."

He pressed his face into her shoulder and tried not to smile. "You can't fall asleep yet, you'll miss the best part." He murmured and pulled her closer.

"It gets better?"

"Yes."

"I don't think I could survive it getting any better."

He stilled with his hand on her hip. "Really?"

She shifted and looked up at him. "Well...let me think about it." She said and closed her eyes.

He waited patiently counting her heartbeats, when her breathing deepened into sleep he bit her sharply on the ear. "I need an answer before you fall asleep."

She scrunched up her face and hissed at him, eyes still closed. "'T's not fair. 'M tired."

"Are you now?" He rolled over onto her pressing her stomach to the ground and himself against her. The air was expelled from her lungs in a quick huff and she lay under him gasping for breath with wide eyes. "Too tired?" He asked.

"Mm, no." She moaned softly.

"Good." He nipped at her neck and lifted her up onto her knees. He knelt behind her hands running along her sides and hips. She pushed her self up with her hands and twisted to look back at him, slipping away from him. He snarled at her and placed a hand between her shoulder blades, forcing her down to the ground. She let out a yelp of surprise but before she could struggle further he slammed his length into her in one smooth movement. She cried out and arched her back as he began to slide in and out. Moving faster he shifted his hand from her back to her shoulder to pull her closer and drive himself deeper. The sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the air, and their power curled around them, dark and light.

She shifted, driving her hips back and breaking their rhythm. He growled at her and leaned forward to bite the base of her neck where it joined the shoulder, this time his sharp fangs broke skin and blood flooded his mouth, but he didn't let go. With one hand gripping her shoulder tightly and the other curled around her hip and pressing between her legs, she was held motionless against him as he rocked his hips into her. Her muscles stiffened and she tightened around him, her power flowing through him again, this time he allowed his own release spilling his seed and dark power into her. She shuddered and collapsed in his arms.

He carefully lowered them both to the ground and pulled his kimono back over her shivering form. He carefully licked at the slowly seeping bite on her shoulder. She had numerous red marks from bites and scratches and the occasional spot of blood where her delicate skin broke under his attentions. Assuring himself that that was the extent of the damage he settled down against her back, wrapping his arms around her. She turned her head slightly to catch him out of the corner of her eye and made a soft questioning wordless noise. He kissed her cheek, a light brushing of his lips against her skin. "Go to sleep." He told her. She relaxed back against him, hands sliding along his arms before settling, and lacing the fingers of their right hands together. Within moments they were asleep.

Dawn brought the scent of another male inu youkai on the morning breeze. He snarled and held the female next to him in a reflexively possessive grip before his mind was fully awake. He lifted his head and sniffed the air, hanyou, specifically Inu Yasha. He did not want to deal with his brother this morning. Sated in more ways then one and with the taste of her blood still in his mouth he was in far too good a mood to let it be ruined by the annoying mongrel. He carefully untangled himself from Kagome, burying his face against her neck for one last taste of her skin and scent. As he pulled away she whimpered but did not awaken, he carefully tucked his kimono around her before dressing in his hakama and gathering his armor.

Leaving her, he moved swiftly and silently through the forest, reflexively covering his trail so that no mark or scent betrayed his passage. On the edge of his hearing he could hear his brother's voice. When a startled shriek at her, no doubt rude, awakening pierced the air he almost turned back. But a sudden spike in power stayed his decision. "SIT," followed by a resounding crash and he returned to his initial path away from them. No doubt she had his brother well in hand. Anyway, Jaken probably needed to be rescued from Rin by now.