InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Peace Treaty ❯ Falling ( Chapter 13 )

Sesshoumaru woke at false dawn. There was something heavy, warm, and very soft covering half his body. He opened one eye and saw in the grayish light that Kagome had rolled over during the night and snuggled up to him. She was stretched out, lying on the left part of his body. Her left arm reached across his torso, and her hand firmly gripped his shoulder. Her leg was thrown over his, thigh pressed into his groin. Though she was wearing a sleeping robe, heat radiated from her, and he could feel the weight of her curvy breasts against his arm. Her head rested on his shoulder, silken black hair smelling like jasmine and tickling his neck.

 

He shifted slightly, causing her to rub herself against him and tighten her grip. “Nooo, don't take it away,” she protested dreamily. He smiled at her tendency to talk in her sleep, but her body was arousing him. He briefly regretted his promise to wait until she came to him. Nothing would please him more than to lay her back, rip off her robe, and lick her until she begged. Fantasizing was not helping. In fact the situation in which he found himself seemed emblematic of their relationship. She tortured; he remained frustrated. May as well try to go back to sleep.

 

An hour later Kagome slowly became aware. She was lying on something big, warm, and hard and soft at once. She realized it was Sesshoumaru, and given the way she was draped all over him, she herself was the cause of her predicament. Not that she had any wish to move. His body felt strong, and his slow breathing made her relax even more against him. She moved her hand up and down his arm, marveling at the smoothness of his skin. Remembering with a start that he slept naked, she decided it didn't matter. He hadn't hurt or threatened her since they started sharing a bed. She felt safe.

 

She shyly slid her hand over his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat. The shape of his muscles wakened something in her she didn't know existed. Is this desire? Would she even know it if it came? Could it be that she was simply happy to be near someone so strong and not feel endangered. Kagome lifted her head and looked at his sleep-softened face. She'd never seen anyone so beautiful. The feeling refused to be written off as mere acknowledgement of protection. She wanted to touch him. She reached up to the magenta lines on his cheekbone, wondering if they felt any different from the rest of his skin. Suddenly a hand grabbed her wrist and golden eyes stared into her blue ones.

 

Sesshoumaru smirked. “I thought at first it was only sleeping Kagome who wanted to touch me. Apparently sensible Kagome has no qualms either.”

 

She gasped, “Let go.”

 

He released her hand, but with a knowing satisfaction.

 

Kagome remembered suddenly that she was still angry. She rolled over and curled in a ball, cursing him for spoiling everything, herself for her stubbornness, and her side of the bed for being so cold and lonesome.

 

XXXXX

 

Kagome and Gina walked together through the corridors of the quarters of General Inutaisho and Sesshoumaru's high ranking officers. “Are you certain Ayame isn't upset with me?” Kagome didn't want to make any enemies.

 

“Truly, don't worry. Ayame knows warriors get hurt. You'll like each other, and their pup is adorable.”

 

Gina knocked softly on a door, which was opened by a Youkai female whom Kagome recognized from when she first arrived at the manor.

 

“Gina! Hello again, Lady Kagome. Gina and Kouga have told me so much about you. Please come in.”

 

Kagome instantly was put at ease. “Thank you, Ayame. I'm sorry I keep injuring your mate. And please, just Kagome.”

 

“Think nothing of it. He'll be pleased you're here.”

 

Kagome was shown where Kouga, abed and propped up by several bolsters, was convalescing. His nose and eyes were bruised and swollen, but he smiled when he saw Kagome. “You're not going to hit me again today are you?”

 

“Far from it, I've brought you a fresh poultice. How did you sleep last night?”

 

“It's hard to sleep sitting up, but Gina's poppy tincture helped. You didn't happen to bring more of that too, did you?”

 

“I'll get more if you need it. It's very habit forming and should only be used when necessary. Besides, one would think a big, strong soldier would tolerate pain.”

 

“Right now I'm good with little, weak, and pain free.”

 

Kagome felt his forehead for fever and checked his eyes, one at a time. She made sure his neck wasn't stiffening or his nose swelling any further. “You're not getting any worse, at least. I think in a few days you'll feel much improved. Kouga I feel so badly about this.”

 

“Stop apologizing. With War's End and now being bed ridden, I'm able to see Ayame more than since we were courting. I should be thanking you. Now we just need to get this Okuri problem taken care of.”

 

“Okuri, the name sounds familiar. Who is he?”

 

“General Inutaisho's trouble-making cousin. It's a long story.”

 

Kagome made a mental note to ask Gina about it. She applied the new poultice and went back to the room where Gina and Ayame were sitting.

 

Ayame was firmly patting her pup's back. He burped softly. “Good boy, Ichirou.” Ayame looked at Kagome. “Please sit down; make yourself comfortable. How is he?”

 

“Healing slowly. It will be a few days before he feels much better. Gina do you have any more essence of poppy?”

 

“I brought some, but I'll make sure he's needful. It's powerful stuff.”

 

“He said the funniest things last night,” Ayame giggled. “Thank you for taking care of him. This young one takes up all my time right now. I think he's having a growth spurt. It seems he's hungry ten minutes after he nurses.” She kissed his head. “I'll make some tea. Kagome, would you like to hold him?”

 

Kagome looked slightly dismayed. “Oh, okay. It's been a long time since I've held someone so small.”

 

Ayame gently handed the blanket-wrapped pup to Kagome and went to fill the water kettle near the brazier. Kagome looked at the little face. He looked like a human baby, only with slightly pointed ears and a vague, unearthly quality Kagome couldn't put her finger on. He opened his mouth wide and yawned, but it sounded like the whine of a dog. His hair was dark brown and thick. It looked so soft; Kagome couldn't resist running her fingers through it. She touched his smooth, round cheek. His chubby little hand grabbed her, and Kagome saw he had the beginnings of tiny claws on his small fingers. He stuck her finger in his mouth and began to suck. When he realized no milk would come out, he made an unhappy face, but didn't cry. Kagome bent her head and smelled him. The scent of an infant was so unlike anything else.

 

She suddenly found her eyes watering and her breath catch in her throat. She had never before held a baby and thought about the day when she would hold her own. She liked children, having cared for some when they were brought to the Sisterhood infirmary, but for so long she assumed she would never bear them. She knew it all changed with the peace treaty, but had never imagined the associated emotions would so thoroughly overtake her.

 

Gina watched her, touched by the tender scene. She wished Sesshoumaru were there to see her lovely, bewildered expression. “He's a dear, isn't he?”

 

“Gina, I…I feel like I've been hypnotized.”

 

“Few are immune from the enchantment of the newly born.” She recalled Sesshoumaru's mesmerized face when holding Ichirou for the first time.

 

Ayame came back to the sitting area. “How's my little wolf?”

 

“Wolf?”

 

“Kouga and I are Ookami Youkai.”

 

Gina explained, “The House of the West is ruled by Inuyoukai, but we ally ourselves with the other canine Youkai. Wolves, foxes, tanuki all reside in the manor.”

 

Kagome realized the groundskeeper, with his striped hair, must be a Tanuki Youkai. “What about the other Taiyoukai houses? I noticed at the treaty negotiations they all looked a bit different.”

 

“The House of the North is controlled by tiger demons, Torayoukai. They are allied with the feline Youkai. The House of the South is headed by Ryouyoukai. Dragons. They ally with reptiles—crocodiles, snakes, for example. The House of the East is populated by bird demons. Amongst the birds, Takayoukai, hawks are the main families. Within each House are many little loyalties and allegiances. I find the politics terribly tedious, but for Seiobo it's like lifeblood. She loves the drama. If you'd like to know more, talk to her.”

 

“I thought it is rude to say demon instead of Youkai.”

 

“It's more, shall I say, informal rather than rude. Only those obsessed with protocol get bent up about it.” Gina gasped with glee. “Did you call Sessh a demon?”

 

“Was it bad?”

 

“Let me put it this way. Sesshoumaru has been raised since an early age knowing he is heir to the West. When he neared adolescence, his powerful Youki manifested, and he had a right to demand respect, completely apart from his lineage. I doubt anyone has ever referred to him as a demon. Certainly not in his hearing. How did he react?”

 

“He brushed it off, but I think it bothered him.” Kagome didn't know if she should make it a point to never call him that again, or go out of her way to do so. “I had no idea Youkai society was so layered and complex.”

 

“What about Ningen society? How is it arranged?”

 

“We have several main families, Great Families precisely; at last count I think there were ten. One representative sits on the Council, which dictatorially makes decisions for everyone. The rest of the families are constantly grasping for power, trying to marry into a Great Family, or earn enough money or clout to buy their way onto Council. It's a very paternalistic, dysfunctional system. One would think miko would be insulated from it, but we were not exempt from the continual scrabbling of politics. I can't say I'm sorry to have left it behind.”

 

After tea, Gina and Kagome went back to the infirmary together. Shippou, arm and hand much improved, was discharged to go back to work serving in the kitchens, but he managed to extract promises of frequent visits from Kagome. After helping change bandages on the remaining burn victims, Kagome tidied up the store room, then went back the rooms she shared with Sesshoumaru. He was nowhere to be found.

 

She had to admit she was a little disappointed. The naughty contrarian in her wanted to pick a fight with him. He was easy to rankle, and she was still upset at being spied upon. But she mostly just wanted to see him. She reflected on their silly one-upmanship at dinner, her secret thrill when he played along. The memory of the unnerving pleasure she felt when his claw grazed her wrist and he softly bit her hand sent her back to their bed that morning. What would have happened had he not acted like an ass? If he had continued his pretense of sleep and let her touch his face? What if he hadn't been so smug? Would she have kissed him? She knew sex between them was inevitable, and she still feared it, but she wanted so badly to trust him not to hurt her.

 

Confused anew, she decided to distract herself by studying the map of the manor, which she thought she recognized on a tall shelf in the map room. She dragged a ladder over and climbed up. The map was just beyond her reach. She stretched, balancing on one foot.

 

“Miko, what in the seven hells are you doing?”

 

Startled, she looked over her shoulder too fast, lost her equilibrium, and fell. Sesshoumaru moved in a flash and caught her. He held her tightly around the waist, her face above his, looking down. Both were conscious of the intimacy of their bodies pressed against one another. They looked in each other's eyes, saying nothing. He lowered her slightly and brought his face closer to hers.

 

She put her finger against his lips. “Why? Why did you watch me?”

 

“I want to know who you are.”

 

She smiled sadly. “Try talking to me.”

 

He sighed in resignation. “Kagome, would you like to go for a walk with me?”

 

“I would love to go for a walk with you.” He still held her. She felt the side of his face, touching those stripes, which that morning had so enticed her. “I've never kissed a man before.”

 

“I'm not a Ningen man.”

 

“I've certainly never kissed a Youkai.” She cautiously closed the distance between them and put her mouth on his. His lips were firm and smooth and responded just enough to make her want to do it again. She laid her other hand on his cheek and kissed him a second time, longer, bolder. She rested her forehead against his, eyes closed, and breathed deeply.

 

“And how was it?” he asked, unable to keep the eager curiosity from his voice.

 

“I'll reserve judgment until I have more information,” she replied, moving to kiss him again.

 

They were interrupted by heavy footfalls in the corridor. “Lord Sesshoumaru!”

 

He groaned and set Kagome back on her feet. “This had better be good,” he growled.

 

Two guards entered, bowing. “Lord Sesshoumaru, forgive us. A spy has been caught, attempting to escape the stronghold.”

 

“Alright, I'm coming.” He looked at Kagome. “I'll find you later.”

 

Sesshoumaru could still feel the ghost of her in his arms. Holding her just then, searching, trusting eyes on his, was even more erotic than having her body on him that morning. He knew those blue eyes would be dangerous when he first noticed how alluring they were. He didn't realize how willingly he would want to plunge into their depths. He pitied the captured spy he was about to interrogate for denying him his fall.