InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Chou Shoki I: Learning from Yesterday ❯ Chapter 38 ( Chapter 38 )

Gone were the terrors of her awful brow

Her idle aegis bore no Gorgon now

- Lord Bryon, Curse of Minerva

 

 

CHAPTER 38

 

He went utterly still above me, his mouth open in a howling growl, and then he collapsed, the weight of him pressing me farther into the futon. I felt his youkai slowly receding.

 

He slowly lifted himself and turned, taking me with him, holding close, and wrapping his arms around me from behind. He made an opening close to the junction between his shoulder and neck and let me bite down on him, placing my own mark upon him. The taste of his blood brought foreign images - a hole in the ground, the Goshinboku and an arrow - which came and went just as easily. On the cusp of oblivion, I felt him within me, hot and liquid at my core. With my hands, my arms, my body, I held him tight. If I was his, then he was mine. And he'd definitely lived up to my dreams.

 

Then he asked about the jewel and he listened carefully as I spoke, “No. I was going to use my own powers to send it to the Kami. My soul would have been the payment for their acceptance.”

 

“Sou ka (I see).”

 

I used my hands to bring his face closer and kiss him, pouring into the kiss the depth of my love for him. He kissed me back and growled softly while doing so. He broke the kiss only to continue it down to where his mark had now closed. He placed a light kiss on it.

 

“We've lost so much time because of our pride. I only wish we could have been completely honest with each other since the beginning.”

 

He continued his exploration of my body. “What's important now, is that we're together and that no living creature will be able to keep me from you ever again, my tennyo.”

 

I chuckled, at both his reply and his caresses. “Speaking of which, that is quite a unique birthmark. Have you noticed how it perfectly formed to make the shape of a butterfly?”

 

I had to chuckle again. “Hai. My okaa-san once told me that all in her family were born with the familiar shape.”

 

“Interesting,” he whispered, a smirk playing across his beautiful face.

 

“Sesshou,” he looked up at me. I put on a serious face. “What are we going to do about our parents? We both know that they will never accept us... I don't―”

 

“Shh,” he put a finger to my lips. “We'll deal with that when the time comes. For now, we'll have to keep it a secret between us.”

 

“And Ujio, and Juro and Lana and―” I stopped before I said `his' name. I couldn't tell Sesshoumaru about `him' yet.

 

He frowned and leaned closer to my face, our noses almost touching. “And who else?” And were it not for the lack of light, I could have sworn I saw fear in his eyes.

 

I really didn't want to keep anything for him. “There is someone else in my life.”

 

He met my gaze, searching, for what, I was not sure. “Someone... else?”

 

I nodded slowly.

 

“A... man?” He seemed frail and his entire composure seemed to be held only by my next words.

 

“This person was one of the three, until you came along, most important in my life. My life revolved completely around this individual.”

 

He began to pull away but I reached for his hands. “Sesshou, you are the only one I want to be with. What I feel for this person and you are completely different. This is my secret and I have guarded it with my life. I need time to prepare this person for you. Please don't hate me for this and don't push me away. In time, I will tell you who exactly it is.” I sat up and hugged him.

 

It took a few seconds for him to respond, but he put his arms around me and pulled me on his lap. “I know. I will give you all the time you need. Just remember that it is natural for me to feel protective at the possibility of another male in your life. Inu youkai are very possessive of what they know is theirs and will fend off anything that they feel threatened by - to death.”

 

I smiled and traced my hands on his back. “You won't have to fight anything or anyone for me. For one thing, I can defend myself, thank you very much. And,” I slid my hands even lower, whispering seductively in his ear, “Secondly, I'm already yours.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“I'm already yours.”

 

He responded to the long artful caress with a low, murmurous growl. Closing his arms around her, he laid down on his back, urging her across him. She followed his lead, quite content to sprawl atop him.

 

Much easier to explore from there.

 

Wriggling until she straddled his hips, knees bent, calves gripping along his hips, she braced her arms, palms flat on his chest, and lifted up - so she could survey her prize. Fingers splayed, she pressed, glorying in the resilience of muscle, the solid resistance of bone. Then she softened her touch and went searching, caressing lightly, then lovingly, across the broad muscles, down over his ribs, across the ridges of his abdomen. Only her position stopped her from reaching further, but she had all night.

 

“You have no imperfections.” Her comment reeked with satisfaction.

 

“No. My youkai blood heals over time any scars left during battles.” He skimmed his palms down her back. “I don't think I can stop touching you ever again.”

 

He was well aware that, contrary to him, her body still had small scars from her battles. Yet, the scars only served to escalate the pride he felt in having her as his mate. Abruptly, he rolled over and tucked her beneath him. Sesshoumaru pulled back to look at her. He stared down at her face, his breathing ragged, his eyes red pools. They searched her face, her eyes.

 

He gasped.

 

Her beautiful lavender eyes were shifting between lavender and a hint of silver again. At the moment, he did not wish to know why, but later, much later, he would inquire. She looked steadily back at him, her pulse racing, her breathing fragmented. He reached down again as if to kiss her, but held off with less than an inch between their lips. Her aura was shifting, calling out to his youkai, trying to blend itself with his own.

 

“I'll never leave you Kagome. My life would cease to exist. I'll always answer your call.”

 

He'd done this before; he knew how he would show it to her. He stood from the futon and pulled the sheets away. She lay naked and let him look. He couldn't seem to look away as he gazed at the perfection that had come into his life. He knelt back down on the futon, first one knee, then the other. A ripple of excitement shivered down her spine as he crawled on all fours to come over her. Then slowly he lowered himself next to her, exhausted and for the first time feeling utterly complete.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes opened sometime during the night. There was a part of him that was scared that it all had been a dream. That Kagome was somewhere off with the idiot kid. He turned to this left, slowly, praying that his tennyo was sleeping soundlessly next to him.

 

She was in deep slumber. Her beautiful face for once looked completely at ease. Her back was completely bare to him. His gaze traveled down her perfect creamy neck to the luscious curves of her right buttock. There were several scars on her back that looked like remains of lashings. He frowned. What could have possibly caused those?

 

Kagome stirred momentarily, murmuring something in some strange language but quickly went back to sleep. A smile played across his face. He caught himself before he chuckled. Not so much because he might awake her, but because of how much she had changed him. If anyone would have told Sesshoumaru that he would fall for a human woman, he would have killed them for even thinking of such idiocy.

 

However here he was. Not only in love with a human woman, but ready to kill any who would wish to do her harm. He reached out to cover her from the wind coming in from the half-closed balcony doors. As soon as his skin came in contact with hers, her entire body flashed a vibrant blue while her lips, nails, and hair turned black. A black butterfly glowed between her brows and then disappeared. An instant later Kagome appeared normal.

 

What in the world? Never had he seen such a thing. Had his marking caused it?

 

Swallowing hard he gently poked at her back. Her breathing was normal. She was completely unconscious. Drawing up the warm blanket, he covered her and watched as she drew in slow breaths. While she slept, he traced the shape of her lips, the length of her nose. Her features were soft and flawless. Like her body. He didn't understand why she had compelled him in the first place.

 

Stubborn and strong-willed, he'd always claimed no female could or would ever dominate him. Yet as he looked at Kagome resting, he wondered at the strange emotions he felt for her. They were unlike anything he knew any youkai should feel. His kind only felt protectiveness, respect and a gratitude for loyalty towards their mate. What Kagome evoked in him was far beyond any of these things.

 

He liked the way she talked to him. The way she held him and made him react to her touches and licks. Most of all he loved the way she tasted when he had fed from her.

 

Her blood was so different. The raw power in it was so overwhelming. Even now he felt it run through him and it almost made him feel invincible. It was almost laughable. Despite the great power she possessed, as an inu youkai, he was far more powerful than her.

 

Snuggling closer, Sesshoumaru wrapped himself around her and let sleep take its course.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The electricity around the cell was sizzling. All three beings felt the change in the air. The two eldest had been conversing about mundane things while the third was drawing circles on the loose dirt. They stared at each other with those red eyes as they realized their pet had done something they were sure they were not going to like.

 

But as always, keeping a tight and complete hold on her was practically impossible. Even they didn't possess as much power. That was why they needed her.

 

The youngest stood. “She's found the Source.” The unearthly voice quivered slightly at what that could mean for all of them.

 

“No. She's inadvertently found a way to the Source,” responded the eldest and leader of all three. He was always calm despite the circumstances.

 

“But I can already feel the change! At any moment she could- ”

 

It was pushed roughly against the wall. “Calm down, Brother. We still have a hold on the miko. As long as she remains in the dark about her origin and believing everything we say, we have her at our mercy. She will continue to be our slave. Our will is forever hers.”

 

“Besides, even if she did find out - which she won't - there is no possible way that she could reach the Source. It's far beyond her. We have complete control over this thanks to you. Remember that it was you who brought her here,” was the reply of the one that had been quietly watching the two of them from across the cell.

 

“I know that. But she is here precisely because she had found the Source. The miko is no fool. Our time is quickly running out and we have yet to reach our goal.”

 

“Dear `Mael. Have I ever told you that you seriously underestimate me? Kagome will lose as she always has. Arik is right. This time around, Kagome will finally fall never to rise again. And those youkai that are sniffing around her will meet the same fate. So stop your whimpering.”

 

“Yes, my Prince,” whispered `Mael reverently.

 

“Good. Now, , where were we?”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

I awoke to find myself high in the futon. His head against my breast, his arms wrapped around my waist, he was a warm solid mass of muscle trapping me mostly beneath him. I was curiously comfortable and not in the least tired - presumably what had been left of the night's and part of this morning's rest had been enough. I felt relaxed. No specter of death could possibly haunt me, not in his bed. Raising one hand, I lifted a silver lock from his forehead, smoothing it back amid the rest.

 

I felt a smile slowly working up its way on my face. He was absolutely beautiful. He made me feel human, right here right now with him. I wanted so much to tell him how he'd made me feel. I stared down at him.

 

Shizukesa ni obieru koneko no you ni hosoku ku no ~ The silence frightens me, I cry weakly like a kitten

Beddo no umi e to fukaku shizumu ~ Sinking into the sea of my bed

Watashi wo yonde koe wo kikasete ~ Call me, I want to hear your voice

Kaze ni nabiku kami yureru sono hitomi ~ Your hair floating in the breeze, your eyes

Kono mama toki ga tomareba ii no ni ~ I wish time would stop now

 

Konna ni ai shitemo ~ Even though I love you so much

Ima wo kasaneru hodo kowaku naru no ~ I get more afraid as the moment goes on

Itsuka samete yuku seitaku na serifu ja naku ~ I don't want lavish words I'll get sick of someday

Kokoro wo tsunagu eien ga hoshii ~ I want our hearts to be joined for eternity

 

Tsukarete nemutta kodomo no you na negao daite ~ I embrace your face as you sleep, you like look a tired, sleeping child

Donna yume ima miteru no? ~ What are you dreaming of now?

Dakishimeru dake surinukete yuku ~ As long as you hold me I can make it through

Sonna ki ga shite namida ga afureta ~ When I got that feeling my eyes filled with tears

Konna mama toki ga tomareba ii no ni ~ I wish time would stop now

 

Konna ni aishitara yasashisa ijou ni ubatte shimau ~ Loving someone this much takes so much more tenderness

Itsuka uso ni naru yakusoku wa kuchi ni shinaide ~ Don't make promises that will become lies someday

Futari wo tsunagu eien ga hoshii ~ I want us to be joined for eternity

 

Futari wo tsunagu eien ga hoshii ~ I want us to be joined for eternity

 

He stirred, tensed for an instant, then, eyes still closed, hugged me and placed a deliberate kiss on the nipple all but against his lips. “Very nice.”

 

I laughed. He sounded like a very large neko youkai, purring with masculine satisfaction. Shifting, he freed a hand from beneath me, then settled back, head cradled on one breast, his hand on the other. He touched me gently, soothingly - not so much with desirous intent as for sensual comfort. I had no difficulty making the distinction.

 

Content, I lay back, luxuriating in the warm caresses, in the golden glow of the moment that still held us. Fingers stroking his hair, I set my mind free - free to feel, to think. To wonder. “I think I love you.” It had to be that, this golden feeling.

 

The lazy drift of his fingers ceased. “Why aren't you sure?”

 

I answered truthfully. “I don't know what love is.” Lifting my head, I peered at his face. “Do you?” He met my gaze, eyes dark, mysterious. Then he looked at his fingers, lying on my breast, and started to gently stroke once more. I smiled and leaned back on the pillows, my gaze lost in the shadows of the ceiling above. I didn't press for an answer. If I wasn't quite sure, why would he?

 

Then again... “Do you love me?” I didn't look down but I felt him look up when I asked this.

 

After a moment, he said, “Can't you tell?”

 

“No.”

 

I waited. He shifted, lifting his head, moving back just a little. I felt his gaze on my face; it lingered for some time, then swept down, over my breasts, over my waist, over my hips, down my legs. It returned, but stopped at the top of my thighs. The hand at my breast firmed. His touch changed.

 

“I'll have to demonstrate, then.”

 

“Demonstrate?”

 

“Hn. Inu youkai are better with actions than with words.”

 

He proved it. Midday became a heated odyssey through realms of passion, desire, sensation, anticipation, hunger, and need. He drew from us both and created the landscape, then guided me through it, ever onward to peaks gilded with ecstasy. Each touch became invested with more than just feeling, each joining with more than the physical fact. Sensations battered at them, emotions drove us, onward, upward, to impossible bliss.

 

At last, I shattered and drank it in, and felt it sink into my bones. A heartbeat later, he joined me. We clung, and the wave washed over us, through us, then the tension slowly drained. My lips curved. I leaned my forehead to his. He traced my face then touched his lips to mine in a chaste, final kiss.

 

Our pact was sealed and our love was finally confessed.

 

Giddy with release, relaxed beyond this world, we slumped together, drew the sheets up, and slept in each other's arms.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Hi, guys (peaking from behind the couch)!

 

As all of you can see, I am still here and willing to continue. I want to first thank all of you who have been patiently waiting for the update on my baby. Thanks for those encouraging messages that have let me know that I still have avid readers. And a very special thanks to Gentlefist for becoming my new beta.

 

And well, I want to apologize because I did promise that it would be no more than three months for the next update. However, so many things have happened that have put my hard work to a stand still. Most people would just leave it at that, but I want all of you to know that your support throughout the time I have been posting means so much. And that is why I want to explain what happened.

 

A month and a half (October) after our move (Keshiro (my hubby) and I) to Mexico, I was overcome by a horrible pain in my stomach. I have always been prone to stomach illnesses, and so I thought it was something that would come and go. It usually never lasts more than a few hours but this time it had already been two days. Keshiro became really worried (I always tell him that he overreacts!) and wanted to take me to the emergency room. I told him to go to work and that I would call him should it worsen, thinking that nothing would happen. Nevertheless, it proceeded to cause me incredible pain that I finally caved into Keshiro's pleadings and I let him take me to the doctor for a check-up. After so many tests (which surprisingly showed I was fine) and a pat on the back the doctor sent me home. Keshiro was by now beyond angry and took me to the emergency room where they immediately sent me to surgery for an appendectomy. The surgeon, a friend and co-worker, practically scolded me like a little child for not realizing the symptoms and letting so much time pass by. And so that led to a month (mostly because I would not stay still) of bed rest and Keshiro dotting over me and worrying about every little thing. He wouldn't even let me touch my laptop to continue working on my baby. That was really overdoing it. Of course, I'm not complaining about my wonderful hubby - I'm always thanking God for bringing him into my life!

 

By the first week of November, I was back to work. And it was only natural that given my supervisor position, there was a sky-high stack of paperwork on my desk, meetings that had been cancelled and which needed to be re-scheduled, and employee files that needed approval and signing. That, of course, left little to none of free time for my own. I would get to work at 5am just to leave at 10pm, when my actual working hours were from 8am-3pm. Not taking in mind that I had to drive an hour and half to get to work! I barely saw Keshiro and my own health started to deteriorate again. That lead to many arguments with Kesh about my well-being.

 

When December came around, my boss approved my petition for a personal assistant. I called Kesh immediately and as you guys might guess, Keshiro was thrilled and virtually put up an altar for the guy! I felt extremely guilty the entire day when Kesh said, “I'm just thankful that you will now have time to continue with your story and I'm going to get more than an hour to spend with you, koishii!”

He had even prepared a special dinner to celebrate back at the apartment.

 

All the time, I had been thinking about continuing my story that I had not thought about all those hours Kesh had spent doing everything around the house, running work-related errands for me, doing his own work and taking care of me. So, I asked for three weeks off from work. I worked my butt off, working on my 2009 agenda for the next few days. With everything done ahead of time, I bought two cruise tickets for the Greek Islands. That day I got home and surprised Kesh! He made arrangements at work and even convinced the people from the city to finally approve the last of the paperwork for a deed to a property we had been filing for since we arrived.

 

Unfortunately, two days later, Keshiro was involved in an accident. At 7:03am, a drunk truck driver lost control of his semi and crashed into Keshiro. It was 7:45am on December 23 when I got the call from the police. When I got to the hospital, Keshiro was in surgery. The nurse informed me that he had three broken ribs, a punctured lung, a massive head injury, a broken arm, several bruises and that they had already lost him twice on the way to the hospital. The nurse tried to keep my mind occupied by having me fill out the insurance paperwork. Even my family tried to keep me distracted. But all I could think about was Keshiro. Would that morning be the last time I would see him smile? Would it be the last time I heard his horrible singing in the shower? Would I ever hear him arguing with me because I liked to go around the house barefoot? All those little things kept running around my head. I thought I was going to kill someone when it was already midday and no one would tell me anything about my husband. By 2:27pm that day, the surgeon, Octavio, came out. It turned out to be the same surgeon that did my appendectomy. Octavio looked exhausted and grim. I felt like my world fell apart at that moment. However, he quickly reassured me that the surgery had gone well. Although Keshiro was still unconscious he had fought the whole time and had been moved to ICU. Instant relief washed over me.

 

Some moments later, I was allowed to enter his room. The minute I entered the room, I fell my courage fly out the window when I saw all the tubes and machines that were attached to him. He looked so ashen, so weak and utterly vulnerable. I sat by his side trying not to cry as I talked to him, letting him know how much I loved him and that I would not give up on him.

 

It was five days later when he awoke. I never really understood how much I had come to depend on him and how little I was without him until his gaze met mine and he weakly squeezed my hand. All those days that I had held my tears back, finally gave way and I cried for almost an hour.

 

Keshiro has been home (in our new home) for almost a week now and I now understand what he must have felt when I was in surgery. Just the thought of losing him, is more than I can bare. I try not to think about it. Still, its something that will continue to haunt me for some time. He understands. And well, with him back at home and sitting next to me, I feel that everything is once again back to normal. So I know all of you will understand when I don't update as often. Everything will take a hundredth seat compared to my Keshiro, as it always has.

 

And so, that is what happened.

 

Oh! Before I go, I want to thank for letting me know about someone posting my story on Fanlib. I had heard from another reader some time ago that she had seen my story on this particular site, however, I hadn't had the time to look for it and had forgotten about it. But now, I'm thankful that she let me know.

 

I just want to ask all of you, if it is not too much to ask, that you let me know if you see my story posted on any site other than Fanfiction, Mediaminer, or A Single Spark. PLEASE! No one likes to see their work taken and passed as someone else's.

 

 

Until, the next time guys. Take care!