InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Head Over Heels ❯ RESPECT ( Chapter 9 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: hedgehogmadhatter 
I leaned forward in the chair and shook my half empty glass at Sesshoumaru, “I fell and you caught me. Now I’m here but you don’t want me to get the wrong idea about us. There is no us. There is just right now and honestly, the present isn’t making a helluva lotta sense.”
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.12.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 508 | Status: Completed
I leaned forward in the chair and shook my half empty glass at Sesshoumaru, “I fell and you caught me. Now I’m here but you don’t want me to get the wrong idea about us. There is no us. There is just right now and honestly, the present isn’t making a helluva lotta sense.”
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.12.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 508 | Status: Completed
Chapter Nine
RESPECT
Kagura:
He blinked and then dropped my treacherous hand.
I wasn't sure if it was in offense or surprise. But he'd asked and I'd given an honest answer. It wasn't as if I accused him of actually being cruel, though I did see the potential in him. But all that mattered was that I won and we were now discussing him instead of me.
Score one for the `witch'.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts before asking, “Could it simply be you've mistaken indifference for something else?”
Those warm lips on my hand had been anything but indifferent. I smiled, because I always enjoy being in control of a situation. “I don't think so.”
He lifted a silver brow and formed a temple of contemplation with his fingers. “That's …unfortunate.”
Was there really a chink in his armor or was this just a ploy? But I decided to play along; after all it wasn't like there was anything on TV better than this.
He blinked and then dropped my treacherous hand.
I wasn't sure if it was in offense or surprise. But he'd asked and I'd given an honest answer. It wasn't as if I accused him of actually being cruel, though I did see the potential in him. But all that mattered was that I won and we were now discussing him instead of me.
Score one for the `witch'.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts before asking, “Could it simply be you've mistaken indifference for something else?”
Those warm lips on my hand had been anything but indifferent. I smiled, because I always enjoy being in control of a situation. “I don't think so.”
He lifted a silver brow and formed a temple of contemplation with his fingers. “That's …unfortunate.”
Was there really a chink in his armor or was this just a ploy? But I decided to play along; after all it wasn't like there was anything on TV better than this.
“No it's questionable. Why would you want me to think you are indifferent or cruel?”
He lifted his face and tried to capture me in those calculating golden eyes. “I didn't want you to get the wrong idea about…us.”
Oh really?
Now this is good.
I leaned back in the chair and sipped from my bourbon glass. I hardly needed anything more to drink but it was safer to imbibe than get caught staring at him. “And so you've invited me to your home, feed me a wonderfully intoxicating amount of the best bourbon and strong armed me into staying? What idea am I supposed to have?”
He looked pointedly at my pristine sneakers and I knew he was thinking of my shoe collection. “Some women are frivolous; others greedy. I have to be careful.”
I leaned forward and realized I was tipsy. “Oh now that's a load of rot! I've not sought you out once. You keep finding me. How careful is that?”
The corner of his mouth turned up and I knew I was quickly losing the upper hand. “I needed books; you sell books.”
The room was overly warm. I know it was snowing outside but the combination of alcohol and the close fire was sizzling. “So I'm here for what; your expressed amusement?”
He lifted his face and tried to capture me in those calculating golden eyes. “I didn't want you to get the wrong idea about…us.”
Oh really?
Now this is good.
I leaned back in the chair and sipped from my bourbon glass. I hardly needed anything more to drink but it was safer to imbibe than get caught staring at him. “And so you've invited me to your home, feed me a wonderfully intoxicating amount of the best bourbon and strong armed me into staying? What idea am I supposed to have?”
He looked pointedly at my pristine sneakers and I knew he was thinking of my shoe collection. “Some women are frivolous; others greedy. I have to be careful.”
I leaned forward and realized I was tipsy. “Oh now that's a load of rot! I've not sought you out once. You keep finding me. How careful is that?”
The corner of his mouth turned up and I knew I was quickly losing the upper hand. “I needed books; you sell books.”
The room was overly warm. I know it was snowing outside but the combination of alcohol and the close fire was sizzling. “So I'm here for what; your expressed amusement?”
And he thought he was the master of cold and detached. He picked the wrong woman to screw with.
His lips parted and I saw his tongue trace the edge of a fang. “Among other things; so why are you working at that bookstore? Is that the height of your aspirations?”
Oh no, he wasn't getting away with this. How stupid did he think I was?
I snapped, “Don't change the subject!”
I leaned forward in the chair and shook my half empty glass at him, “I fell and you caught me. Now I'm here but you don't want me to get the wrong idea about us. There is no us. There is just right now and honestly, the present isn't making a helluva lotta sense.”
And that's when he kissed me. He was over me in a flash pressing his lips on mine. Okay now that is one way to win an argument.
I may not be human per say but I am flawed and weak. My hands found their way to his shoulders; suddenly I was pulling him forward and closer to me. His lips told an entirely different tale than his words. His words were cool, guarded and premeditated, each syllable weighed before uttered. His lips were reckless.
Semantics aside things were amazing until his long fingers strayed from my shoulders and found their way to the collar of my shirt. They wandered down my bra into the valley between my breasts.
I tensed up but my body betrayed me by pooling into a hot pile of goo; but then my temper kicked in.
Who the hell does he think I am?
Just some girl he can invite over to maul without any repercussions or time commitments on his part?
Oh no siree bub, not this `witch' and not in this lifetime. One moment his hand was millimeters from the big prize the next he was flying backwards propelled by the force of my wind.
He flew back, tripped over the ottoman and landed on his ass. His hair fell forward over his face so I wasn't able to judge the extent of his anger. But it didn't matter how mad he might be, there was more wind where that came from.
I stayed seated with my guard up waiting. My powers heightened and the air in the room sizzled and snapped. I stoked the fire and it roared with cobalt blue flames. The old wives tale says that fire burns blue in the presence of true evil. But in the hierarchy of badness, I'm a Twinkie. Just like Jessica Rabbit, I'm not bad…just drawn that way.
Oh no siree bub, not this `witch' and not in this lifetime. One moment his hand was millimeters from the big prize the next he was flying backwards propelled by the force of my wind.
He flew back, tripped over the ottoman and landed on his ass. His hair fell forward over his face so I wasn't able to judge the extent of his anger. But it didn't matter how mad he might be, there was more wind where that came from.
I stayed seated with my guard up waiting. My powers heightened and the air in the room sizzled and snapped. I stoked the fire and it roared with cobalt blue flames. The old wives tale says that fire burns blue in the presence of true evil. But in the hierarchy of badness, I'm a Twinkie. Just like Jessica Rabbit, I'm not bad…just drawn that way.
Sesshomaru sat on the floor with his hands palm down on either side of him, his legs splayed out before him. Of every thing I was expecting his words blew me away. “I deserved that.”
Ah, so he's a cold octopus and a suck up. That's a winning combination.
Hell right he deserved it. But for once in my short life I kept my mouth shut.
Hell right he deserved it. But for once in my short life I kept my mouth shut.
He stood, took a seat on the ottoman, then reached for the decanter. He refilled his glass and then held out the bottle to me as if nothing had happened, “Refill?”
Having established my authority and limits I was feeling well…cocky. Sesshomaru was no long holding his cards close to his chest. Now they might as well be lying on the floor face up.
My glass was still a quarter full so I shook my head. “Still trying to get me drunk?”
He answered with a slight smirk. “Hardly. But as you are nearly there I thought I'd join you.” With that he tilted back his glass and drained it.
I winced at the fire that must be pouring down his throat. Only a true masochist would succumb to such self abuse. For some odd reason I wasn't ready or willing to explore, I wanted to forgive him. Then I decided, nah… he didn't deserve it.
My mischievous side rose up before I could squelch it, “I'll have you know, I'm not as think as you drunk I am.”
He laughed in mid drink. I was waiting for a Jr. High moment but sadly no bourbon came shooting from his nostrils. “So is that what they teach in colleges these days?”
I liked his laughter and decided to keep the moment light. “But of course! But you should know that. It's not like you're an old man.”
I looked up and caught him pulling off his black turtleneck. “Whoa there man! Who said you could strip?”
Well it would be nice but hardly proper.
He pulled the knit top over his head and tossed it to the floor. I was almost disappointed to see he was wearing a plain back t-shirt underneath. Sesshomaru ran a hand through his hair, “I'll have to beg your pardon but I was roasting.”
Somehow I doubted he'd ever begged for anything in his life, but hey if there's anything else he wanted to take off…
I answered slowly, “Yeah I bet it was. So when did you graduate from college?”
“Harvard.”
I almost rolled my eyes at his purposeful evasiveness, “That was a where. I asked you when.”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment allowing me time to appreciate his thick eyelashes and wonder if somewhere deep inside there was a drag queen screaming to get out. “First graduating class of the turn of the century.”
He answered with a slight smirk. “Hardly. But as you are nearly there I thought I'd join you.” With that he tilted back his glass and drained it.
I winced at the fire that must be pouring down his throat. Only a true masochist would succumb to such self abuse. For some odd reason I wasn't ready or willing to explore, I wanted to forgive him. Then I decided, nah… he didn't deserve it.
My mischievous side rose up before I could squelch it, “I'll have you know, I'm not as think as you drunk I am.”
He laughed in mid drink. I was waiting for a Jr. High moment but sadly no bourbon came shooting from his nostrils. “So is that what they teach in colleges these days?”
I liked his laughter and decided to keep the moment light. “But of course! But you should know that. It's not like you're an old man.”
I looked up and caught him pulling off his black turtleneck. “Whoa there man! Who said you could strip?”
Well it would be nice but hardly proper.
He pulled the knit top over his head and tossed it to the floor. I was almost disappointed to see he was wearing a plain back t-shirt underneath. Sesshomaru ran a hand through his hair, “I'll have to beg your pardon but I was roasting.”
Somehow I doubted he'd ever begged for anything in his life, but hey if there's anything else he wanted to take off…
I answered slowly, “Yeah I bet it was. So when did you graduate from college?”
“Harvard.”
I almost rolled my eyes at his purposeful evasiveness, “That was a where. I asked you when.”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment allowing me time to appreciate his thick eyelashes and wonder if somewhere deep inside there was a drag queen screaming to get out. “First graduating class of the turn of the century.”
Ah there we are, “The year two thousand then?” He was a young success.
He said simply, “Nineteen hundred. I was forty five years old when I graduated from the Harvard school of business.”
Damn.
No I mean DAMN!
But I shouldn't be surprised, some yokai are very long lived. I decided to be nonchalant. “So how was World War I?” At this point visions of the movie All Quiet on the Western Front were running in my brain.
He smiled sadly and his gaze fell to the floor, “Those trenches were hell.”
Okay now I couldn't stop myself, “But you're like me, Japanese or some mix there of. How did you end up in a trench?'
He shrugged, “I have lived in Tokyo but I was born here. I joined to piss off my father.”
Now that was so normal it was almost weird, “And did it work?”
He lifted his head and laughed softly, “It was a rousing success. When I came back he cut me off.”
Nosey girl that I am, I asked, “Did you reconcile?”
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and it was hard to tell if I was pushing too much or if he was feeling regret. “Somewhat but then he died.”
Oh shit.
He said simply, “Nineteen hundred. I was forty five years old when I graduated from the Harvard school of business.”
Damn.
No I mean DAMN!
But I shouldn't be surprised, some yokai are very long lived. I decided to be nonchalant. “So how was World War I?” At this point visions of the movie All Quiet on the Western Front were running in my brain.
He smiled sadly and his gaze fell to the floor, “Those trenches were hell.”
Okay now I couldn't stop myself, “But you're like me, Japanese or some mix there of. How did you end up in a trench?'
He shrugged, “I have lived in Tokyo but I was born here. I joined to piss off my father.”
Now that was so normal it was almost weird, “And did it work?”
He lifted his head and laughed softly, “It was a rousing success. When I came back he cut me off.”
Nosey girl that I am, I asked, “Did you reconcile?”
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and it was hard to tell if I was pushing too much or if he was feeling regret. “Somewhat but then he died.”
Oh shit.
Open mouth insert foot. Good going Kagura! “Oh. I'm so sorry.”
“Don't be I'm not. It wasn't as though I was responsible for his death and I've stepped into my place as Taiyokai. What more could I have done?”
Hey don't look at me, my life is so screwed up I couldn't be much help to anyone else. This doctor is not in. “Do you have any siblings?”
Sesshomaru frowned and reached for the decanter “One bastard half brother.”
“So…is he illegitimate or just a jerk?”
He paused to think then said, “Both, but he's more of a walking disaster area than anything else. And you; any sibling rivalry?”
“I have a younger half sister Kanna, but she doesn't talk much.”
He poured the last of the bourbon into his glass, “And why is that?”
I raised both brows, “Hell if I had to live with my stepfather I wouldn't talk much either.”
“I suppose she's in Hawaii right now?”
That was unlikely; Kanna was probably at our aunts. “Not if she's lucky.”
“So not all is well at the house of wind?”
I sighed, “He's not a wind yokai or even a full yokai. He's some mix of human and a few others.”
Sesshomaru spat, “Hanyou.”
I nodded, “Yup and he's a bastard too. He hates my guts.”
I heard a soft chuckle, “And I suppose you've done nothing to facilitate that.”
I gave my best evil grin, “Well…there were a few things back when I was a teenager. Ahww screw it. I fucked with him every chance I got.” And I am proud to admit I still do.
I could hear the eye rolling in his voice. “I can just imagine his pain and the things you put him through.”
“Don't be I'm not. It wasn't as though I was responsible for his death and I've stepped into my place as Taiyokai. What more could I have done?”
Hey don't look at me, my life is so screwed up I couldn't be much help to anyone else. This doctor is not in. “Do you have any siblings?”
Sesshomaru frowned and reached for the decanter “One bastard half brother.”
“So…is he illegitimate or just a jerk?”
He paused to think then said, “Both, but he's more of a walking disaster area than anything else. And you; any sibling rivalry?”
“I have a younger half sister Kanna, but she doesn't talk much.”
He poured the last of the bourbon into his glass, “And why is that?”
I raised both brows, “Hell if I had to live with my stepfather I wouldn't talk much either.”
“I suppose she's in Hawaii right now?”
That was unlikely; Kanna was probably at our aunts. “Not if she's lucky.”
“So not all is well at the house of wind?”
I sighed, “He's not a wind yokai or even a full yokai. He's some mix of human and a few others.”
Sesshomaru spat, “Hanyou.”
I nodded, “Yup and he's a bastard too. He hates my guts.”
I heard a soft chuckle, “And I suppose you've done nothing to facilitate that.”
I gave my best evil grin, “Well…there were a few things back when I was a teenager. Ahww screw it. I fucked with him every chance I got.” And I am proud to admit I still do.
I could hear the eye rolling in his voice. “I can just imagine his pain and the things you put him through.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and in my best Dr. Evil voice said, “You cannot begin to imagine his pain! There were sharks! Sharks with fricking lasers strapped to their heads!” Then I cackled.
Sesshomaru blinked then shook his head. He was actually smiling. Now I know he was drunk. “That was truly horrible. Mike Myers has nothing to fear from you, don't quit your day job.”
Oh so now he's a critic. “Oh fuck you.”
He kept a straight face and retorted, “I tried earlier, remember?”
And now he's a comedian.
I stood up and the room seemed a bit more wobbly than it had an hour ago. “About that guest room, I think I'm ready for it.”
He sighed and rose from the ottoman, “It's your loss.”
I turned and said with a simple smile. “No I do believe it was your loss. And if you want to impress me you'd better start with my head.” I swung around and left him standing in front of the fire place.
Okay now I was sounding like a Salt `n Pepa number. It was time to call it a night.
Sesshomaru came up behind me and pushed open the door. “Point well taken.”
_-_-_-_
The guest room was bigger than my living room. I made a note to tell Sushi about the posh digs.
I found an unopened tooth brush in the bathroom with a fresh tube of toothpaste. I decided to forgo the brush as it was just creepy for someone to be so prepared. I brushed my teeth with my finger and made sure to squeeze the tube from the middle. Just in case Sesshomaru might ever see it.
I flopped down face first on the queen sized bed and felt the room whirl around me. The sheets must've had a thousand or so thread count.
It was heaven. Absolute perfection. Too bad I was too far gone to truly appreciate it.
_-_-_
Someone was staring at me.
And it was bothering me.
What the hell? I opened an eye and discovered I was still facedown on the wonderful bed. I rolled over and discovered that movement wasn't such a good idea. For the next few hours it was advisable to move…very…very…slowly.
The room was pitch black and my door was still closed.
My first thought was, `God can't that man take a freaking hint! If that perverted Inu-yokai is in here with me…I'm so gonna kick his ass.'
My hand reached out and found the lamp. I fumbled with the switch and then bingo. Let there be light!
Jane the nanny stood at the end of my bed watching me and wringing her pale thin hands. Her short blonde hair was perfect, not a strand out of place and she was fully dressed. This did not bode well.
I knew it was pointless but I had to try. “Hi.”
And she said nothing. Damn it.
“Is Rin okay?”
She nodded then sat on my bed and burst into quiet tears.
Oh shit. The nanny was dead. I had to do something.
But how was I going to explain this to Sesshomaru? Just knock on his door and ask if he was short one nanny?
What if something had happened and there was a burglar? Even if she was gone due to natural causes there was a chance Rin would be the one to discover her.
There was only one thing I could do.
_-_-_-_
Notes:
This chapter was named after the Aretha Franklin song.
For everyone who's asked, The Devils Dictionary can be found at Amazon dot com. Just search for it under the book heading. I have a knack for reading unusual books and haven't seen this one in a store since I bought it. Iz would loan you our copy but she's still reading it.
In my other fic Hanyou on a Hot Plate: the moment of truth is soon at hand. Kagome's in the delivery room and Inuyasha's hanging in there….barely. Can the man who defeated the Band of Seven and the Thunder Brothers survive his wife giving birth? Oh yeah and Sesshomaru is there too…against his will of course.
Also I've updated my website to include a summary of this fic and a wonderful picture of Sesshomaru at Rin's mercy. It's too good. Go check it out. The link to my site is at my profile and the address is hedgehogmadhatter dot com. Thanks so much for all the reviews!
From The Devil's Dictionary:
Non Combatant: A dead Quaker.
Self-Esteem: An erroneous appraisement.
Robber: A candid man of affairs.
……Ambrose Bierce