InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Actions Speak Louder Than Words ❯ All Hallows Eve Ball ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: -sings- I own nothing! Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha!

 

Shadowcat1028: I know I lied, sorry. Its way better without him in it though, trust me. Oh, and utsukushi means `beautiful' sorry for not clarifying.

 

Utsukushi = beautiful

 

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Actions Speak Louder Than Words

 

Chapter 7- All Hallows Eve Ball

 

“We have an audience.”

 

I whispered quietly to Sesshoumaru. I was very uncomfortable with all these youkai staring at us. They seemed to be sizing me up and giving Sesshoumaru disbelieving looks.

 

“I know.” He responded in his usual bored tone. We were dancing, the song a slow one, and I had my head on his chest. His heart rate had gone nuts when I had first put my head there, but it had slowed. His chest, however, had remained tense throughout the entire song.

 

His whole body was rigid, and he kept looking around him. He seemed nervous, almost, but I wasn't quite sure. I was good at reading him, but not that good.

 

Especially since he was never nervous.

 

I felt someone behind me suddenly, but ignored it. It was probably just another dancing couple, but I snuggled closer to Sesshoumaru anyway, seeing as all the other couples had left a ten foot circle around us and were paying more attention to us then dancing.

 

“Hey Sesshoumaru, mind if I cut in?” a voice inquired in a suggestive voice.

 

“Yes.” He responded, and kept dancing. I smiled, my head turned the other way from the stranger.

 

We continued to dance, and the song was almost at an end, when I heard Sesshoumaru mutter quietly in my ear.

 

“I have to go to a quick business meeting with my father. It will be better if you stay out here, away from my protection, for a little while. They will have to see how you do without me here. It will also give you the chance to meet a few people and dance with a few other males. And yes,” he said in response to the protest that was forming in my throat. “You have to dance with other males. I know I said to not physically contact any males, but you will have to in order to dance with them. I will know should anything else happen.”

 

He gave me a quick kiss goodbye, and then headed towards his father across the dance floor. I took the opposite route, and was just wondering what the hell I was going to do next when someone stopped in front of me.

 

“Hi.” He said casually. He had dark brown hair, blue eyes, and was wearing some sort of fur get-up as his costume. I smiled in response.

 

“Would you like to dance?” he inquired, and held out his hand. I hesitated, but only for a moment, remembering Sesshoumaru's words, and let him lead me out to the dance floor.

 

“What's your name?” he asked, and I suddenly recognized his voice as the one that had asked Sesshoumaru if he could cut in.

 

“Kagome. Kagome Higurashi.” I responded, and smiled up at him. He wasn't quite as tall as Sesshoumaru. He was taller then me by about an inch; Sesshoumaru topped me by a whole head.

 

“Kouga Wolf.” He said promptly, and flashed me a sparkling grin. “I'm the Prince of the Eastern Lands, you know.” He said arrogantly.

 

I decided to play dumb. Faking ignorance, I acted surprised. “Really? It is a pleasure to meet you, Kouga-sama.”

 

As if any idiot with two eyes couldn't see the crest of the eastern lands on his headband.

 

After dancing with him, I was asked to dance with three other males, and I agreed each time. A group of disapproving females came up to me after I finished dancing with the last one.

 

“You need to stay away from Sesshoumaru-sama, little bitch.” One with black hair and red eyes informed me.

 

“Yeah, he's not yours. He's Kagura's.” another one said, indicating the one who had just spoken. “And stay away from Kouga also, he's mine.” She informed me viciously. Her green eyes flashed dangerously.

 

“You should go home, ningen. This is no place for weaklings.” A third one said.

 

“Then it is a good thing I'm not a weakling. And quit telling me to stay away from `your' men. They both approached me, and I have no desire to go near Kouga again anyway.” I responded calmly.

 

Kagura's eyes flashed. “You will do well to stay away from Sesshoumaru-sama! He is MINE you bitch!”

 

She had been opening and closing the fan in her hand repeatedly, her movements becoming sharp and jerky as her temper increased. She suddenly unfurled it, and made a slashing motion at me.

 

A stinging in my left cheek let me know that I had been cut. She looked at me triumphantly, proud at her marring job. I glared.

 

“Aw, what's the matter ningen? Have nothing to defend yourself with?” she asked mockingly.

 

At that moment I thanked my grandfather for forcing me to train my miko abilities.

 

I snatched the fan from her hand and purified it in a flash of blue light. It disintegrated within seconds.

 

“Actually, I do. Now if you'll excuse me?” I asked, and walked past them without waiting for an answer.

 

The warning snarl behind me was too late. I felt the claws dig sharply into the back of my neck before a loud snarl rent the air. The claws were ripped out. I glanced behind me while I grabbed the back of my neck and felt blood.

 

Kagura was cowering in front of Sesshoumaru.

 

His eyes were red.

 

He barked something and she fled. He approached me, his eyes still red, and I took a step back. He stopped, and shook his head. When he looked back up, his eyes were back to their normal honey colour.

 

He approached me, turning me around so that my back was to him when he reached me. He swept my hair to one side and began to lick the back of my neck, washing the blood off and healing the wound.

 

Once it was healed, he glared at the crowd and kept my hair off to one side. “This has gone on enough.” He stated dangerously. “It will end here.”

 

He brought one arm up, hand extended, and I saw it glow green. I stared at it. `What the hell is that?' I wondered, having never seen it before. His hand went out of my view and he bent his head down until he could whisper quietly in my ear.

 

“This Sesshoumaru apologizes.”

 

There was a searing pain on the back of my neck. I could tell he was writing something there, but I didn't know why it felt as though the skin there was melting. After a few minutes of intense pain, it stopped and I felt his tongue go over the cut flesh, soothing it.

 

He suddenly turned me around, my face into his chest, and kept my hair away from the back of my neck. He growled viciously at the crowd, who gasped.

 

“She is mine. Any who trifle with her will be dealt with by my hand, and I will not show mercy.”

 

He growled again and the crowd returned to talking amongst themselves. He hugged me to him, and whispered in my ear.

 

“Please forgive me. We will discuss this later, and you can make your decision then. I have to talk with my father right now. You should have no problems with anyone from now on.”

 

With that he left, heading towards his father who clearly looked astonished. I stood in the middle of the dance floor, at a loss of what to do. No one would come within ten feet of me. Exasperated, I took a seat at a table.

 

Someone sat across from me. Looking up, I met the ice blue eyes of Kouga. His own eyes narrowed.

 

“Reject it.” He said cuttingly.

 

“Excuse me?” I asked, having no idea what he meant. He tapped the back of his neck.

 

“Reject it.” He repeated urgently.

 

Having no idea what on earth Sesshoumaru's little carving-happy session was about, and not trusting Kouga, I glared.

 

“No.” I said icily.

 

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“That was quite the display.”

 

Was the first thing my father said to me when I approached him. I raised an eyebrow in response.

 

He sighed and rubbed his face with a large hand. “You're serious about her then?” he asked tiredly. I glared.

 

“This Sesshoumaru does not mark females lightly. If you remember correctly, father, that is the only intended mark I have ever placed upon a female.”

 

“Yes, I know Sesshoumaru. I may be old but I do have a decent memory. Go to her, take her home and explain everything. I'll call her mother and let her know she'll be staying the night again.”

 

I nodded, and clasped my fathers shoulder in a silent thank you. From his wording, he expected Kagome to consent to my courting mark.

 

I hoped my father was right.

 

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“We have much to discuss.”

 

I jumped. That was the first thing Sesshoumaru had said since he had gone to talk with his father. The limo had just dropped us off, and we were standing in the entrance hall.

 

“Come.”

 

He led me to his room, shutting the door after I entered. He faced the door, and did not turn around. I stood about five feet away, waiting.

 

“I must apologize for not receiving your consent before I did that. I was…worried for your safety, though that is not the only reason I put that upon your person.”

 

He kept his back to me, not moving. One hand was on the door, the other at his side. His claws shone bright in the dark room, his head and shoulders slumped as though he carried the weight of the world.

 

“I carved my name in kanji on the back of your neck. In demon terms, it is a mark of more than just courtship. It is a mark of ownership and intention.” He paused.

 

“It is the mark that one would put upon his future mate.”

 

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I know it's a cliffy, but a really good one, ne?