InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fetch ❯ The Waiting Game ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own. Only own the laptop this was typed on and the slightly twisted imagination it came from.

A/N: This one is a little more on the serious side. It addresses more of the emotional part of things, rather than the carnal... although we'll get back to the smut in the next installment - can't stay away from good old-fashioned smut for too long, after all.

---xXx---

Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly....

Kagome shivered as those words slid through her mind. Ever since the other day, when he'd run off with her after smashing Koga around, and played his little game of Master and Servant with her, she'd felt hunted - even more than she had before. His eyes were almost always on her, filled with a heat and desire that he made no effort to hide, and in fact, was almost acting as though he wanted everyone to know what he was thinking, and who he was thinking about.

A sigh broke from her, and at that tiny sound, Sesshoumaru turned his head and stared straight at her, a hot, hungry look in his eyes that had her knees so weak it was a wonder she could even walk. The tension between them was strong, and she knew it was only a matter of time 'til their next 'encounter'.

Her brow furrowed as she wondered, again, and for the millionth time, she was sure, just what his next move would be, exactly. He, for some unknown reason, was determined that things would move at a certain pace between them, and wouldn't budge on that. What she couldn't figure out was why.

What was he holding out for?

---xXx---

Sesshoumaru caught her gaze with a hot look, eyes shining like molten gold, letting her see exactly how he felt, and something inside clenched victoriously when she shivered and her eyelids slid to half mast. After the taste of her he'd had the other day, it was an exercise in control not to throw her down and mount her right there in the road in front of everyone... his blood was boiling him alive, and his lower regions ached so badly he wasn't entirely sure how he was able to walk.

But he couldn't give in. Not yet. Because of the strength of her reiki, reiki that would try to purify his mark and seed if he mounted her now, he had to wait. Until he could get her body attuned to his desire, he had to hold out. If all he had wanted was a quick rut, then that would have been no problem, but he wanted forever, he wanted everything of her, heart, soul, body and mind, and for his mark to take and hold, her body would have to be so deep with want for his, that his youki could overpower her reiki without damaging her.

It was getting there... oh, it was definitely getting there. He had her where he wanted her. She wanted him, almost as much as he wanted her, now, so it was only a matter of time. Plus, he wanted Naraku out of the way. Once he finally got his little onna, he would allow no interruptions, and Naraku was always interrupting something.

Which made it a good thing that the bastard dark hanyou was soon to be brought down. Because he had no intentions of tolerating any more delays in getting his miko where he wanted her - or should he say, getting into his miko where he wanted to be? Far as he was concerned, he'd gladly spend the rest of his life with some part of his body buried in hers... there was nothing on earth quite like his onna.

His. Always his, only his, first and last his. No one else would ever be allowed to know the pleasure and light that was his Kagome.

Too bad for them that they all missed out and would never see the promised land. Just like the Western Lands, these lands belonged only to him.

His onna. His mate.

Just... his.

He captured her eyes again, spearing her with a possessive, openly desirous look - and watched as she returned it with interest.

Yes, it would be soon - although even soon couldn't be soon enough.

---xXx---

Inuyasha watched the looks between Kagome and Sesshoumaru bitterly, angry that he hadn't been able to put a spike in his bastard half-brother's plans to steal his miko. The whole thing was pissing him off beyond anything - and he was beginning to seriously contemplate different ways pf possibly killing his brother off. He'd even gotten to the point where he was about ready to have Kagome go home, and then keep her there... since Sesshoumaru couldn't get through the well, and he could, it was one solution to the problem.

Of course, with that bloody bastard, there were downsides to it, too. He was sure that the moment Sesshoumaru realized what he was up to, the game would be over, and he would be dead. Not the outcome he was particularly hoping for. Maybe he could be bribed? After all, there had to be an ulterior motive with this whole thing - it couldn't be that Sesshoumaru really wanted to mate Kagome.

There had to be something else.

Maybe he could get his brother to tell him what he was really after. It was probably the whole Tessaiga thing again - but then again, maybe not. Whatever it was, though, he was certain he could work with it... especially if it would get the youkai Lord off his miko. Kagome was his, and he wasn't willing to share. Her attention should be on him, not his brother, end of the fucking story.

Mind made up, he moved forward to his brother's position, and waited for him to glance over, acknowledging his presence. While normally he'd just start talking, he needed to keep his cool right now if he had any hope of getting to his brother's real reason for chasing Kagome.

"Oi, Sesshoumaru." He kept his gaze pinned on his brother, and watched his brow raise in surprise that he was actually talking instead of yelling. Nice to know he could be caught off guard, too. "I wanna talk to you about the situation with Kagome. I don't want to see her hurt, so whatever it is that you're after, why don't you just tell me, and we'll see if we can work it out."

Sesshoumaru wanted to laugh at his brother's words. He still wouldn't believe that he truly wanted the miko.

"Why do you insist on believing that I have an ulterior motive in my pursuit of Kagome? Do you find her so unworthy that you cannot imagine anyone wanting her because you do not? You might prefer cold, dead flesh, but I can guarantee you, I do not. I want my onna warm... and willing."

"Keh! That's not it, you bastard, and you know it. But you hate humans, and hanyou even more - and if you mated Kagome, you'd be dealing with the devil, in your own beliefs. I don't get how you think I'm gonna believe that she's what you are truly after, when you've spent centuries hating father for mating a weak ningen and sireing me!"

"It does not matter what you believe, half-breed. I will tell you, however, the difference in what I do, and what father did. Your mother was a simple ningen, with weak blood. Why do you think you suffer from those transformations? Because her blood is too weak to match our father's." With a quick sideways glance at his brother, he sighed at the look of pain on his face.

"With Kagome, yes, technically, my heir and any other pups will be hanyou - but they will not suffer what you have. Kagome's blood is more than powerful enough to match mine. I would not have a child of mine suffer that which our father cursed you with. It is as simple as that."

Before Inuyasha could cut in, he shook his head, then finished. "Not only that, but the pups will have my power, and hers as well. Youkai, yet youkai able to wield spiritual powers - and have a certain immunity from them, as well. Only one more powerful than Kagome would be able to harm my pups. Instinct, Inuyasha. It is instinct to make sure the pups are as powerful as possible - to make sure that they survive. Kagome is my match, and she is more."

Inuyasha growled as he finally thought his way through the end of his brother's words. "So, the only reason you chose Kagome is because of power. Now that makes sense coming from you - you being all obsessive 'bout power and all. But Kagome deserves better than that - and she'll expect it. She'll want love, and since you can't give her that, I guess I'm safe after all - in no danger of losing her to you," he finished, smugly.

Sesshoumaru inhaled deeply, irritated at his half-wit brother for his assumptions.

"Listen well, Inuyasha. Yes, Kagome has power - but make no mistake, this mating is not about power. It is a perk, and I am grateful that my beast chose a woman that will not bring weak pups into the world that I would constantly have to worry over. But I am mating Kagome because I want to. Not for any other reason, after all, there are others with power as well. If you know what's good for you, you will not interfere."

With a snarl, Inuyasha glared over at his brother. "Well, if you're so keen on mating her, then what the hell's the hold up, huh? What's taking so long?"

Sesshoumaru stopped suddenly, right in the middle of the road, not caring that everyone behind him had to hit the brakes quickly or end up in a (pardon the pun) dogpile. Drawing a deep breath, he turned and faced his brother.

"Half-breed, I am getting tired of you questioning me. What I choose to do, and who I choose to mate, is none of your concern. That is between Kagome and I. As is the timing of it. I have my reasons for playing the waiting game - reasons having to do with eternity, and who I want to spend it with." He raised a brow, knowing what would be coming next. "That being my miko, Inuyasha, so do not entertain any other thoughts on this matter."

As he finished, he turned again, ignoring Inuyasha completely, he held out his arm to Kagome. "Would you care to walk with me, Kagome?"

She nodded, sending him a questioning glance, tilting her head towards the hanyou. He shook his head.

"I will explain later, my onna. For now, let us continue on. The sooner we find Naraku, the sooner we can get on with... other things." His voice deepened and became hot on the last two words, flowing over her nerves like warm honey, and she shivered, smiling up at him, she nodded, and they turned and continued walking, not even glancing at Inuyasha, who stood fuming at the side of the road.

As Miroku passed him, he said, "You just don't get it, do you, Inuyasha? You cannot have them both. You want to mate Kikyou, we all know this. Would you deny Kagome a life of happiness, and a family, all because you want her to stay and play second best to Kikyou for the rest of her life?"

Sango nodded. "Kinda selfish, Inuyasha. Let her go. They're happy together, so leave them alone."

Inuyasha was left in the dust as the rest of the pack passed by, head whirling.

I don't want to let her go! And I'm not gonna without a fight!

---xXx---

Kagome sighed, content and pleasantly sleepy as she watched Shippo and Rin run and play in the clearing their camp sat in. She loved watching the two, they had so much enjoyment in each others presence. If she ended up with Sesshoumaru, she supposed she'd have many more evenings of watching the two play together, too. That was certainly a plus... it would be nice to have a family of her own.

It was the 'with Sesshoumaru' part that was still so surprising.

And apparently not just to her, if that little discussion between the daiyoukai and Inuyasha had been any indication. She hadn't really heard much of it, just her name, but it was enough to know they were arguing about her - and it wasn't hard to figure out that Inu was still not believing Sesshoumaru's interest in her was motivated solely by her.

She flicked a quick glance at the Lord, and immediately blushed when she caught his intensely sensual gaze locked on her. She couldn't really blame Inu, she supposed, for his doubts - even she had a hard time believing that such a gorgeous, powerful, and wealthy being could want someone as plain and simple as her.

Ignoring the presence in camp of the rest of the group, Sesshoumaru looked at his miko and asked, "Why is it so difficult to believe, Kagome? Do you truly find yourself worthless, as the hanyou is always saying?" He disregarded said hanyou's indignant yell, keeping his gaze focused on her. He could read her all too well... those flashes of thoughts were becoming much stronger as time passed and their souls aligned more.

She flushed even more, and glancing around the fire uneasily, she wrung her hands together, suddenly nervous. She started to speak, but Sesshoumaru stood and walked to her, holding out a hand to help her up.

"Come, my miko. I think we need to speak a bit about certain... things."

Eyes wide, she stared at him for a moment, then nodded, and put her hand in his, allowing him to pull her up. He didn't stop at getting her to her feet, however, continuing to pull on her until he was carrying her, her head resting on his shoulder. With a glance at Inuyasha, he said, "We will be back later, so do not follow us."

He heard the indrawn breath from the hanyou, but before he could cut him off, Kagome did, saying, "Sit," in a quiet voice, giving the spell just enough to smack him good but not much else.

Ignoring the snickering of the rest of the group, Sesshoumaru cautioned, "Keep watch on the young ones. If anything happens to Rin...." he trailed off. No one needed that thought finished, they all knew what would happen if Rin got hurt... especially Jaken.

As the light of the campfire faded behind them along with Inuyasha's cursing, Kagome asked, "Where are we going? Anywhere specific?"

He looked down at her, and nodded. "Yes. It is a place I found on my travels through this area once before. You will like it, I think."

"Oh," she said, softly. "Okay. I trust you."

He smiled to himself at those words. That is good, my little miko, because I trust you as well, and it is only right to trust your other half.

---xXx---

Sesshoumaru watched her face carefully as he set her on her feet, pleased with the look of wonder he found there. Turning his gaze outward, he could feel a sense of wonder as well. This place was deserving of awe.

They were standing on high promontory overlooking a huge swathe of land that was lit by the light of the full moon, making it glow. They were fairly high up, and so the view was incredible - it was like looking at forever.

They both stood there, quiet, drinking in the beauty, and the peace, for a while.

Finally, he slid his eyes over to her, and caught the look of happiness on her face. She was so easy to please.

"Tell me, Kagome, why you have such a hard time believing that I want you - for your sake and no other reason. Is it because of the idiot and his callous words?" His voice was quiet, but serious... he was playing no game at this moment.

She blushed a bit, and looked away, before sitting down with a sigh, still facing outward, looking over the lands.

"It's not... him, really. I don't think I'm ugly, per se, just plain, and I don't think of myself as unworthy... at least, not for another ningen. I'm certainly the match of any ningen, Lord or not, and I won't let any man treat me as property." She tilted her face up, eyes closing for a moment, then opened them and peeked at him.

"But I guess that's the problem. You aren't a 'man'. You aren't a ningen. You are daiyoukai, powerful, handsome, wealthy... and I am Kagome. No more, no less. I don't see what you could possibly find of interest in me." She chuckled a bit nervously. "Especially not for an eternity. I don't think I could hold your interest for that long."

He was silent for a while as he contemplated her words. After a time, he sat down next to her and looked out over the moonlit landscape.

"How much of the conversation with Inuyasha did you hear earlier, Kagome?"

"Nothing of it, really, except my name, why?"

"I have wanted you for some time. Do not think that I just appeared on the beach that day, my onna. I had been watching you for months - getting to know you as much as possible, to see if you would make a good mate." He shook his head slightly, then sighed. "Youkai look for different things in a mate than humans do, I suppose. For a youkai, power is everything. It means survival. With humans, they seek power as well, but tend to dress it up in pretty clothes and call it love."

Kagome stiffened. "But not everyone..." she trailed off as he put up a hand.

"I know this, Kagome. And things are probably very different in your time, are they not? I have gathered much in my observations of you. But still, I sought one who had power... power that could defend and care for any pups of the mating. It is the youkai way. And there were many females that made that list - the list of those with sufficient power to be considered as a mate. You, however, were the only ningen on the list."

"Well, while that's an honor, and I do understand what you're saying, about strength to defend the pups and all, I don't want to be mated simply for power. Those kind of ties fade after a while." She lowered her head and stared at her hands that were twisting nervously in her lap, very unsure where things were going at this point.

"And you will not be. If all I required was power, as I said, there were several others I could have gone to. This was the argument with Inuyasha. He felt that all I could possibly offer you as a reason was a desire to breed your power into my bloodline. And that is certainly a plus. It makes their survival that much more certain. But... it isn't the reason that I chose you." He turned and looked at her, lifting her head with the tip of a finger, waiting 'til she gathered her courage and met his gaze.

"Then why?" she whispered shyly, eyes suddenly vulnerable and soft.

"Of all the females, you are the only one to inspire any passion in me - you inspire a great deal of it... and not only physical. I want you, yes, and I've made no secret of that," he smirked as she blushed heatedly, "but it isn't just your body I want, Kagome. I want everything. All of it. Your heart, your body, your soul, and your mind. And I will not be satisfied until I have all of that. Until you can give me all of yourself, I will not take you. I want it all, and will be satisfied with nothing less."

She blinked at him, startled. "What do you mean?"

He let a small smile tilt his lips, and looked at her with heat in his gaze. "It means that until you can tell me that you love me, and your body can do the same, I will not mate you. Until that time, I will continue to tempt you, my miko, and I will take great pleasure in your passion, but I will wait for the rest to finalize things."

She tilted her head and pulled back from him for a minute. "And what do I get out of this? I have to tell you that I love you before you'll accept me... what do you have to do for me?"

At that, he stood, and holding out a hand to her, pulled her up and into his arms. With a wicked grin, he brushed his mouth over her lips and then down her neck, before lightly nipping her along the side of it, inhaling her scent deeply.

"The same, Kagome. When I think that you are ready to hear it, I will give you the same."

Eyes widening, she stared up at him, shocked.

Is he implying...?!

Lord Sesshoumaru, ningen hating daiyoukai ruler of the Western Lands, is implying that he...

Loves...

Me?!

He chuckled, and once again picking her up in his arms, shook his head in amusement as he carried her back to their camp. She stared at him blankly the whole way.

I think I got more of a response at that than I have even from playing her 'servant' that day. Onnas. I guess the words really do mean more than anything else.

I suppose it's a good thing I've got the words, then, isn't it? Too bad for Inuyasha he doesn't believe I do... he won't see it coming until it's far too late.

He snuck a glance at his onna as she lay on her bedding, noticing the sweet, happy smile on her face that was currently upsetting his hanyou brother greatly.

In fact, I think it already is too late. Maybe, I'll have what I want even sooner than I thought.

Not that I'm complaining. The Waiting Game is getting rather old.

I need to think up some new games to play in the meantime - just to keep things interesting, of course.

He watched her fall asleep that night with many pleasant possibilities running through his mind, but one thought at the forefront of them all was gratitude that the baka hanyou was too busy chasing a dead woman to take Kagome for himself, leaving her for him.

Mine. All mine.

---xXx---

A/N: I wish Sesshoumaru was knocking on my door claiming MINE. Hell yeah! I wouldn't fight that at ALL!

Amber










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