InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ Aquamarine ( Chapter 42 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.11.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.3K | Visits: 309 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.11.2009 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.3K | Visits: 309 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
Aquamarine __________________________________________________________________ ______
“It’s in there… the key is in the water.”
Stepping forward to stand beside the kneeling miko, Sesshoumaru looked down at the water’s surface, his own reflection shining back at him. “How will you retrieve the key?” he wondered aloud.
Her eyes widening to stare blankly into space, Kagome realized that that was a very good question! There was no way to know how deep the water was and the key would likely be at the bottom of the pool. She was an excellent swimmer, but even she could only hold her breath for so long. Plus there very was likely going to be a visibility problem… again!
Displeasure settling into the pit of her stomach, the miko made an unhappy face knowing she would be forced to submerge in what was probably cold, cold water. “I’m gonna have to go for a swim.” she finally answered his question, her tone miserable and unenthused.
“Hn.” the daiyoukai snorted, his eyes leaving her to stare up at the fading sunlight. “Then it is advisable that you make haste. Your objective will only be made more difficult if you wait until nightfall.”
“Riiiight…” Kagome murmured detachedly, another unnamed emotion washing over her. Looking down, the miko took in the messy tuck of her haori into the sash that secured her hakama. Lighter in weight than the clothing of this time, the bell-like pants and billowing sleeves of her current attire would still be counter productive for swimming.
‘Oh dear…’ Kagome thought as she glanced at the seemingly unconcerned youkai over her shoulder. Thinking as quickly as her addled brain would allow the miko tried and failed to remember whether or not she had packed her bathing suit.
“By all means, take your time,” the demon lord spoke up from behind her, his bored nonchalance grating on her nerves. “As you are clearly favored by the gods, the sun will surely maintain its position and lend you its light indefinitely.”
“Shut up!” she finally snapped, her irritated response eliciting nothing more threatening than a small smirk from her companion. “I’m trying to think okay?!”
“What is there to think about?” Sesshoumaru wanted to know. “You can sense the key can you not?”
“I-I can but…” she bit her lip not wanting to voice her concern but also not really knowing what else to say.
Then, thinking of something he had not considered before the inu lord asked, “Can you not swim?”
“No, I mean yes, of course I can swim, I just…”
“Then what is there to think about?” he asked again.
Standing and turning toward him although her eyes remained on the ground the miko began to run a nervous hand up and down the sleeve of her haori. It was then that the demon lord understood her apparent apprehension. She did not wish to disrobe in front of him. The thought was oddly amusing if not a bit perplexing.
“You are ashamed?” he finally spoke up knowing she would understand what he was asking.
“N-not ashamed exactly…” she trailed off her eyes still refusing to meet his. Glancing back toward the water, the miko began worrying her lower lip.
His eyes taking on a slightly glazed look, the daiyoukai watched as the delicate pink flesh was kneaded between her teeth. Instead of looking at the floor, she was now looking off to the right, her eyes fixed on the bland cave wall several feet from where they stood. Sesshoumaru’s breath quickened inaudibly when the miko’s little pink tongue darted forward to sooth the flesh that was now slightly swollen and a darker shade of pink. Suddenly, he was reminded of the time he had kissed her.
Warm and soft, the press of her lips against his had been exquisite beyond anything he could imagine… well, not anything, but it was certainly something he would not soon forget. Even now, its memory was enough to quicken his pulse and send a rush of heat through his body.
With a small sigh, he ended his train of thought before certain temptations could become too powerful to resist. As much as he wished otherwise, now was not an opportune time to discover whether or not the miko would accept any further advances. Thinly veiled beneath her tense stance, timidity and nervousness thrummed just under the surface of her blushed skin. It would likely not prove advantageous to seek his answers at this time. As he continued to breathe in the scent of her trepidation, tiny fragments of thoughts and memories began to cluster together. Alone one might have missed their significance, but together they revealed something he had not even thought of before. It was so obvious now, how had he missed such a thing?
“You are… untouched…”
Oddly inoffensive to a woman who tended to be sensitive regarding such matters, the statement spilled from his lips to drift heavily into the space between them. The miko turned his words over in her mind and though it was not a question, she knew that he was expecting an answer. The rush of blood to her head had undoubtedly reddened her cheeks further, and in her mind, Kagome felt that should be answer enough. Still, his words had not been accusatory, belittling or derisive in any way; they were simply a stated fact. It was as if he had only just discovered the truth and in his awe, voiced his thoughts aloud.
He was still waiting for confirmation or denial of his assessment and illogically, the miko found herself becoming slightly annoyed. What made him think he had the right to ask her something so personal anyway? Not really knowing what to say, she finally settled on “I… I hardly see how that has anything to do with this.”
So he was correct. Her flushing countenance and convulsive tugging on her haori sleeve was enough to give away her answer even before she voiced to her admission. What remained unclear was why she would be ill at ease with the idea of disrobing in front of him? Did she not trust him? Was she afraid that he would attempt something she was unprepared for? Admittedly, the prospect of seeing her unclothed body was appealing, but he did not possess the self control of some unruly whelp. Managing to temper his rising annoyance before it could escalate into full blown discontentment, the inu lord reminded himself that the miko had made no such accusation.
Stepping closer to her, Sesshoumaru hooked a clawed finger beneath Kagome’s chin. Her continued resistance to meet his gaze was only fleeting and her eyes soon locked on his. “There is nothing to fear Kagome.” he intoned quietly. “No one else is here to see and this Sesshoumaru will do nothing that is contrary to your wishes.”
Kagome stared up at him mulling over what he had just said. She immediately recognized the truth in his words and was now feeling slightly embarrassed about her lingering reticence. Staring into the demon’s eyes, an abstract part of Kagome’s mind realized that he was simply asking her to trust him. He wasn’t like Miroku; he wouldn’t leer at her like an idiot or try to cop a feel. He had already proven that when he’d spent the night with her. Still, she was unused to disrobing in the presence of a male.
Silently considering her options the miko’s brows furrowed in thought. Sesshoumaru had entrusted her with the only thing he truly seemed to value; the life of his young ward. Could she not return such an extraordinary leap of faith, if only just this once? With much effort, Kagome managed to suppress her misgivings, her expression instantly clearing and her eyes shining with resolve.
Still holding his gaze, the miko slowly removed the bow from her shoulder and the quiver from her back before reaching for the thin sash that secured her hakama. As she gathered her courage, the natural inclination to request that he turn away remained silenced, bitten back behind tightly clenched teeth.
‘It’s okay,’ she soothed herself mentally; ‘You only need to strip down to your underwear. It won’t be much different than wearing a two-piece swimsuit.’ she decided, ignoring the fact that she’d never worn a two-piece swim suit, preferring the added coverage of a one-piece.
Refusing to look away in spite of her mounting nerves, the miko tugged the knot at her waist blinking languidly when she felt it loosen. ‘You can do it Kagome!’ she told herself when her heart began to race. Licking her suddenly dry lips, Kagome brought her remaining hand up to join the first. The ends of the sash were soon undone and the young priestess drew a deep shaky breath, her eyes finally lowering to stare at Sesshoumaru’s armored chest. A long rush of warm air was expelled through slightly parted lips and the miko forced the muscles of her hands to relax.
The hakama hit the floor, the quiet rustle of cloth against stone loud in her ears. Resisting the urge to shiver, which may or may not have had anything to do with the cool air that now caressed the exposed skin of her legs, Kagome bravely returned the demon lord’s unwavering gaze.
The lids of his faintly glowing eyes looked slightly heavier than usual, but aside from that, his expression had hardly changed. Encouraged, rather than discouraged by the hint of approval she had probably only imagined in the golden gaze that stared back at her, the miko reached for the lapels of her haori. Separating the thin cotton material together with its partnered under kimono, the priestess soon felt the joined fabrics slide off her shoulders.
The lightly textured fabric brushed her skin leaving a trail of goose-bumps to mark its path down her arms. Exhaling much of the stress from her body, she suppressed the urge to cover herself.
“Well…?” she breathed quietly, belatedly realizing her question sounded like a request for approval.
His eyes fixed on the miko’s face, the demon blinked slowly before giving a curt nod. He had not expected her easy compliance and was now finding that he didn’t quite trust his voice at the moment.
Smiling coyly, Kagome turned away from him making her way to the water’s edge. After removing her white tabi socks and rolling them into a neat little bundle, she seated herself near the water’s edge dipping her feet into the pool.
‘That wasn’t so bad.’ she thought happily, her cheeks still blazing. “Well,” she said aloud, not turning back to face him, “May as well get this over with.”
Sesshoumaru watched as she drew a deep breath and held it before sliding her bottom off the stone ledge. She dropped into the water in one swift motion, the cool water splashing quietly and leaving a pattern of ripples to mark the place of her submersion. He released a small sigh, a level of tension leaving his body. Though he wore his typical unenthused expression, Sesshoumaru could feel his heart racing in his chest.
Welcome but unbidden, images of what he had just witnessed played over and over in his mind. Large brown eyes, captivating and sparkling with innocence had ensnared him in a way he never would have believed possible as her clothing was slowly peeled away. He could still see her perfect little body, covered by nothing but a strange white chest binding and a matching… something which resembled the feminine version of a fundoshi. Though what remained covered very little a selfish, greedy part of his soul wished she had removed even that.
Honestly, he had expected her to request that he turn away and had barely kept his brows from shooting up in surprise when she did not. To watch a female no, to watch her, Kagome do such a thing had ignited an inferno just beneath the surface of his skin and sent his youkai heart racing. Considering the newly discovered desire he held for her, it should not have been surprising, but the sheer intensity was unanticipated. It was nearly enough to incinerate him where he stood!
As the simmering amber gaze focused on the spot from which Kagome had vanished, Sesshoumaru wondered how he had suppressed the urge to touch her. How had he resisted the very compelling desire to run claw tipped fingers along the tempting planes of her smooth stomach, her arms, toned from years of archery, her legs feminine but strong from trekking across the unforgiving terrain of a time and place from which she had not originated?
Perhaps it was the same influence that had stayed his hand back in the alcove? The faint, but alluring scent of her arousal had not escaped his notice though he had refused to acknowledge it. He had been torn between the desire to remain there with her, the unexpected and slightly perplexing need to find escape as quickly as possible. Finally, he had decided that it was best to escape. Sesshoumaru was a demon who prided himself on his self control, but even he apparently had his limits.
A faint crinkle formed on the inu lord’s brow. These limits, he decided with begrudging acceptance, were something he had been unaware of until his acquaintance with the miko.
Still, Kagome held a great deal of trust in him therefore his growing desire for her would have to be handled with great care. He was fairly certain that the little miko was ill prepared for what an aroused youkai lord could do to her.
A slow smirk formed on his lips. He would need to utilize a level of patience, but he would not allow her to remain in ignorance for much longer. __________________________________________________________________ ______
Her flushed skin cooling quickly in the chilled water, Kagome was nearly forced to resurface and draw another deep breath. Suppressing the urge, she managed to recover from the shock, slowly opened her eyes and began to swim.
Though surprisingly clear, the water blurred her vision and ate up the dwindling sunlight the deeper she sank into the pool. In spite of the water’s temperature, a slow burn began to make itself known as her muscles strained with the effort of treading the icy liquid around her. In a short time she had made it to the bottom and her attention was drawn by a slow, but steady current brushing against her skin. Turning toward its source, she saw an area of one of the far walls which was slightly darker than its surroundings.
‘A tunnel!’ she realized with both dread and relief. The key’s energy was strong in that direction, but the idea of entering an underwater tunnel was not a pleasant one. Steeling her resolve and ignoring her body’s calls for oxygen, the miko pushed her muscles into overdrive. It did not take long to make it to the wall, and she hesitated for only a moment before entering the channel. Because if its angle, very little light was able to enter the passage and Kagome’s sense of discomfiture began to increase. Still, she forced herself to proceed, arms and legs propelling her further and further into its murky depths.
The flowing water against her skin soon became more persistent and though she could hardly see, Kagome knew she was no longer moving forward. The force of the water’s flow an that of her own propulsion had equalized. It was as if she was on a treadmill, no matter how fast she swam, she would remain in the same spot.
Realizing it was of no use to continue, and becoming uncomfortably more aware of her body’s need for air, Kagome ceased her movements and let the water push her back out of the channel. Moving as swiftly as her aching muscles would allow the priestess hastily made her way back to the much needed oxygen.
The water’s surface broke over her head with a loud splash, and the miko began greedily sucking air into her deprived lungs. Running her hands through her slick wet hair to get it away from her face, she had to blink several times before her eyes started to adjust.
“Do you require assistance?” a calm voice spoke from behind her and Kagome immediately turned around, her thick mane splashing the water again.
Shaking her head to indicate a negative response, Kagome drew another deep breath before she swam back to the stone ledge.
“I couldn’t… I couldn’t get the key.” she finally managed, still clearly out of breath. Before he could ask why, she pulled herself out of the water to sit on the ledge, her feet still dangling in the water. Carefully wringing the excessive moisture from her hair, Kagome did not notice the covetous gaze being leveled upon her. “There’s a tunnel down there.” she said distractedly, her attention focused on her task. “The tunnel has water flowing through it and I could only get so far… I’m not strong enough to push through the current.”
Tossing the still heavy strands over her shoulder, Kagome finally looked up at him. “I think… you need to come with me.” When he simply raised a brow she continued, “I know the key is in that tunnel and I think I’m supposed to be the one to retrieve it, but I’m not strong enough to reach it on my own.”
The demon lord’s thoughts on this development would remain obscure to her though his willingness to help was evident in the movement of his fingers to the thick, luxurious pelt he wore over his shoulder. Almost as if daring her to look away, which she most certainly would have otherwise, his eyes bored into hers.
Kagome was like a woman bewitched as one article after another was stripped away. First there was the pelt, then the elaborately tied obi followed by the armor; each item being placed a short distance from where he stood. It was only when he began to untie the sash that secured his hakama that the miko finally averted her gaze, her cheeks again flaming in spite of the coolness of her damp skin.
Missing the smirk that formed on her companion’s lips Kagome focused her attention on her hands which were now clasped in her lap. Attempting to keep her mind blank, she was not fully able to escape the whispering thoughts that mentioned how fortuitous it was that they were alone and how interesting an experience it would be that they were both going to be wearing nothing but thin scraps of cloth that covered nothing but their nether regions. Absently, the slightly flustered priestess felt a drop of moisture slide down the side of her face and couldn’t decide if it was water or sweat.
Unable to sit there any longer with the flush she knew was crawling over her skin, the miko pushed off the stone ledge and dropped back into the pool. She was now finding the cool water welcoming and she relaxed her still fatigued muscles with a small sigh. Her eyes staring glassily at the stone wall on the opposite side of the pool, Kagome started almost violently when the water shifted beside her.
“Oh!” she cried intelligently, having just now reemerged from whatever trance she had slipped into.
Her surprised gaze was met with the deliciously toned planes of a distinctively male chest and Kagome immediately forgot how to breathe. Her fingers twitched with the instinctual desire to reach out and touch him but the miko suppressed the move before it could be made. Drinking in every delectable line of muscle that was visible above the water, her eyes eventually made it to the youkai lord’s face. He was staring down at her, his expression characteristically blank aside from a tiny glimmer in his eyes that spoke faintly of amusement.
“I-I wasn’t staring!” she snapped guiltily.
“Clearly.” returned dryly, his lips surrendering to a tiny quirk.
Before she could berate him for his arrogance the demon spoke up again. “Now, do you wish to get going or would you prefer to continue your daydreaming?”
“I wasn’t daydreaming either!” she scowled halfheartedly. “Umm, h-how are we going to do this?” she asked, her eyes straying again.
Sesshoumaru noticed and felt his smirk threaten to spread. If nothing else, he decided, the attraction was mutual.
Pushing his thoughts aside for later exploration, the inu lord turned away from her an swept his long wet hair aside to expose his back.
Probably because he was observing her over his shoulder, Kagome refrained from ogling the muscles he exposed with the movement of his hair. Instead, she hesitantly moved forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ignoring the temptation to explore, the miko kept her greedy little fingers were they were as she adjusted herself against his back.
“Umm, the tunnel is that way.” she said as she extended an arm to point him in the right direction. She was answered with a curt nod before she clasped her arms tightly around him again.
“Are you ready?” she heard him ask.
“Yeah,” she told him before drawing a deep breath and holding it. The demon silently did the same before he dove into the water. Kagome, surprised at how fast he swam was forced to tighten her grip. If she didn’t need to hold her breath, she would have laughed at the exhilarating feeling of moving so swiftly through the water. Trailing them like banners, their hair, shadowy midnight and silvery moonlight mingled together in the water as the distance between them and the tunnel shrank into nothing.
The demon entered the channel without pausing and was soon facing the current that had so quickly turned Kagome away. His movements seemingly unimpeded, Sesshoumaru swam deep into the dark passage.
The priestess tightened her grip further as the combination of his speed and the increasing velocity of the current threatened to pull her away from him. Her eyes, though squinted against the rapidly moving water soon picked up a faint blue glimmer an indeterminate distance away from them. As he continued to propelled them forward, the glow eventually took on a distinctive shape. Elongated, and round on one end, she knew it could only be one thing.
‘The key!’ she realized gleefully. She chanced freeing an arm to reach out as the glowing object came into an attainable distance. Seeing the outstretched limb but not what she was reaching for, Sesshoumaru began to slow down. As they were already near the floor he was able to keep the current from pushing them back by grabbing hold of a protruding section of stone. Stretching as far as she could Kagome soon wrapped her fingers around the object’s elongated center. Giving it a light tug, she was met with disappointment when the key did not immediately dislodge. Redoubling her efforts as her body began to scream for air, Kagome gritted her teeth and gave an insistent yank. The key finally gave way freeing also a small chunk of stone which pelted the miko just above her left eye.
Surprised by the jolt of pain, her grip on Sesshoumaru loosened and Kagome was swept away. Screaming inside her mind, the miko’s flipped end over end as the merciless torrent shoved her further and further away from him. Before she could reach the channel’s exit, a strong arm wrapped around her.
She was pulled tightly against the flexing muscles of Sesshoumaru’s body just in time to avoid scraping her shoulder against a jagged protrusion of stone. Almost before she could register what happened, both she and her companion broke the water’s surface.
Coughing up water from her premature gasp, Kagome lowered her face and tried to push away from him. Though the demon lord made no move to release her, he loosened his hold allowing her to catch her breath. Once she was sufficiently composed, the miko’s attention was instantly drawn to her left hand and the object still clutched within. Bringing it up for closer inspection, she gasped quietly when her questing gaze was met with a golden key. Larger than she expected, the key was nearly as long as her hand. One end fashioned with several precisely shaped teeth, the other was adorned with the most exquisite gem she had ever seen; a shimmering blue aquamarine.
It was clearly a royal artifact.
“We did it!” she announced enthusiastically. Turning an exuberant smile on him she continued, “We got the first key!”
Her excitement was exchanged for an emotion she dared not name when she noted how the demon lord’s attention seemed to be focused on her rather than the object she held. __________________________________________________________________ ______
Aquamarine __________________________________________________________________ ______
“It’s in there… the key is in the water.”
Stepping forward to stand beside the kneeling miko, Sesshoumaru looked down at the water’s surface, his own reflection shining back at him. “How will you retrieve the key?” he wondered aloud.
Her eyes widening to stare blankly into space, Kagome realized that that was a very good question! There was no way to know how deep the water was and the key would likely be at the bottom of the pool. She was an excellent swimmer, but even she could only hold her breath for so long. Plus there very was likely going to be a visibility problem… again!
Displeasure settling into the pit of her stomach, the miko made an unhappy face knowing she would be forced to submerge in what was probably cold, cold water. “I’m gonna have to go for a swim.” she finally answered his question, her tone miserable and unenthused.
“Hn.” the daiyoukai snorted, his eyes leaving her to stare up at the fading sunlight. “Then it is advisable that you make haste. Your objective will only be made more difficult if you wait until nightfall.”
“Riiiight…” Kagome murmured detachedly, another unnamed emotion washing over her. Looking down, the miko took in the messy tuck of her haori into the sash that secured her hakama. Lighter in weight than the clothing of this time, the bell-like pants and billowing sleeves of her current attire would still be counter productive for swimming.
‘Oh dear…’ Kagome thought as she glanced at the seemingly unconcerned youkai over her shoulder. Thinking as quickly as her addled brain would allow the miko tried and failed to remember whether or not she had packed her bathing suit.
“By all means, take your time,” the demon lord spoke up from behind her, his bored nonchalance grating on her nerves. “As you are clearly favored by the gods, the sun will surely maintain its position and lend you its light indefinitely.”
“Shut up!” she finally snapped, her irritated response eliciting nothing more threatening than a small smirk from her companion. “I’m trying to think okay?!”
“What is there to think about?” Sesshoumaru wanted to know. “You can sense the key can you not?”
“I-I can but…” she bit her lip not wanting to voice her concern but also not really knowing what else to say.
Then, thinking of something he had not considered before the inu lord asked, “Can you not swim?”
“No, I mean yes, of course I can swim, I just…”
“Then what is there to think about?” he asked again.
Standing and turning toward him although her eyes remained on the ground the miko began to run a nervous hand up and down the sleeve of her haori. It was then that the demon lord understood her apparent apprehension. She did not wish to disrobe in front of him. The thought was oddly amusing if not a bit perplexing.
“You are ashamed?” he finally spoke up knowing she would understand what he was asking.
“N-not ashamed exactly…” she trailed off her eyes still refusing to meet his. Glancing back toward the water, the miko began worrying her lower lip.
His eyes taking on a slightly glazed look, the daiyoukai watched as the delicate pink flesh was kneaded between her teeth. Instead of looking at the floor, she was now looking off to the right, her eyes fixed on the bland cave wall several feet from where they stood. Sesshoumaru’s breath quickened inaudibly when the miko’s little pink tongue darted forward to sooth the flesh that was now slightly swollen and a darker shade of pink. Suddenly, he was reminded of the time he had kissed her.
Warm and soft, the press of her lips against his had been exquisite beyond anything he could imagine… well, not anything, but it was certainly something he would not soon forget. Even now, its memory was enough to quicken his pulse and send a rush of heat through his body.
With a small sigh, he ended his train of thought before certain temptations could become too powerful to resist. As much as he wished otherwise, now was not an opportune time to discover whether or not the miko would accept any further advances. Thinly veiled beneath her tense stance, timidity and nervousness thrummed just under the surface of her blushed skin. It would likely not prove advantageous to seek his answers at this time. As he continued to breathe in the scent of her trepidation, tiny fragments of thoughts and memories began to cluster together. Alone one might have missed their significance, but together they revealed something he had not even thought of before. It was so obvious now, how had he missed such a thing?
“You are… untouched…”
Oddly inoffensive to a woman who tended to be sensitive regarding such matters, the statement spilled from his lips to drift heavily into the space between them. The miko turned his words over in her mind and though it was not a question, she knew that he was expecting an answer. The rush of blood to her head had undoubtedly reddened her cheeks further, and in her mind, Kagome felt that should be answer enough. Still, his words had not been accusatory, belittling or derisive in any way; they were simply a stated fact. It was as if he had only just discovered the truth and in his awe, voiced his thoughts aloud.
He was still waiting for confirmation or denial of his assessment and illogically, the miko found herself becoming slightly annoyed. What made him think he had the right to ask her something so personal anyway? Not really knowing what to say, she finally settled on “I… I hardly see how that has anything to do with this.”
So he was correct. Her flushing countenance and convulsive tugging on her haori sleeve was enough to give away her answer even before she voiced to her admission. What remained unclear was why she would be ill at ease with the idea of disrobing in front of him? Did she not trust him? Was she afraid that he would attempt something she was unprepared for? Admittedly, the prospect of seeing her unclothed body was appealing, but he did not possess the self control of some unruly whelp. Managing to temper his rising annoyance before it could escalate into full blown discontentment, the inu lord reminded himself that the miko had made no such accusation.
Stepping closer to her, Sesshoumaru hooked a clawed finger beneath Kagome’s chin. Her continued resistance to meet his gaze was only fleeting and her eyes soon locked on his. “There is nothing to fear Kagome.” he intoned quietly. “No one else is here to see and this Sesshoumaru will do nothing that is contrary to your wishes.”
Kagome stared up at him mulling over what he had just said. She immediately recognized the truth in his words and was now feeling slightly embarrassed about her lingering reticence. Staring into the demon’s eyes, an abstract part of Kagome’s mind realized that he was simply asking her to trust him. He wasn’t like Miroku; he wouldn’t leer at her like an idiot or try to cop a feel. He had already proven that when he’d spent the night with her. Still, she was unused to disrobing in the presence of a male.
Silently considering her options the miko’s brows furrowed in thought. Sesshoumaru had entrusted her with the only thing he truly seemed to value; the life of his young ward. Could she not return such an extraordinary leap of faith, if only just this once? With much effort, Kagome managed to suppress her misgivings, her expression instantly clearing and her eyes shining with resolve.
Still holding his gaze, the miko slowly removed the bow from her shoulder and the quiver from her back before reaching for the thin sash that secured her hakama. As she gathered her courage, the natural inclination to request that he turn away remained silenced, bitten back behind tightly clenched teeth.
‘It’s okay,’ she soothed herself mentally; ‘You only need to strip down to your underwear. It won’t be much different than wearing a two-piece swimsuit.’ she decided, ignoring the fact that she’d never worn a two-piece swim suit, preferring the added coverage of a one-piece.
Refusing to look away in spite of her mounting nerves, the miko tugged the knot at her waist blinking languidly when she felt it loosen. ‘You can do it Kagome!’ she told herself when her heart began to race. Licking her suddenly dry lips, Kagome brought her remaining hand up to join the first. The ends of the sash were soon undone and the young priestess drew a deep shaky breath, her eyes finally lowering to stare at Sesshoumaru’s armored chest. A long rush of warm air was expelled through slightly parted lips and the miko forced the muscles of her hands to relax.
The hakama hit the floor, the quiet rustle of cloth against stone loud in her ears. Resisting the urge to shiver, which may or may not have had anything to do with the cool air that now caressed the exposed skin of her legs, Kagome bravely returned the demon lord’s unwavering gaze.
The lids of his faintly glowing eyes looked slightly heavier than usual, but aside from that, his expression had hardly changed. Encouraged, rather than discouraged by the hint of approval she had probably only imagined in the golden gaze that stared back at her, the miko reached for the lapels of her haori. Separating the thin cotton material together with its partnered under kimono, the priestess soon felt the joined fabrics slide off her shoulders.
The lightly textured fabric brushed her skin leaving a trail of goose-bumps to mark its path down her arms. Exhaling much of the stress from her body, she suppressed the urge to cover herself.
“Well…?” she breathed quietly, belatedly realizing her question sounded like a request for approval.
His eyes fixed on the miko’s face, the demon blinked slowly before giving a curt nod. He had not expected her easy compliance and was now finding that he didn’t quite trust his voice at the moment.
Smiling coyly, Kagome turned away from him making her way to the water’s edge. After removing her white tabi socks and rolling them into a neat little bundle, she seated herself near the water’s edge dipping her feet into the pool.
‘That wasn’t so bad.’ she thought happily, her cheeks still blazing. “Well,” she said aloud, not turning back to face him, “May as well get this over with.”
Sesshoumaru watched as she drew a deep breath and held it before sliding her bottom off the stone ledge. She dropped into the water in one swift motion, the cool water splashing quietly and leaving a pattern of ripples to mark the place of her submersion. He released a small sigh, a level of tension leaving his body. Though he wore his typical unenthused expression, Sesshoumaru could feel his heart racing in his chest.
Welcome but unbidden, images of what he had just witnessed played over and over in his mind. Large brown eyes, captivating and sparkling with innocence had ensnared him in a way he never would have believed possible as her clothing was slowly peeled away. He could still see her perfect little body, covered by nothing but a strange white chest binding and a matching… something which resembled the feminine version of a fundoshi. Though what remained covered very little a selfish, greedy part of his soul wished she had removed even that.
Honestly, he had expected her to request that he turn away and had barely kept his brows from shooting up in surprise when she did not. To watch a female no, to watch her, Kagome do such a thing had ignited an inferno just beneath the surface of his skin and sent his youkai heart racing. Considering the newly discovered desire he held for her, it should not have been surprising, but the sheer intensity was unanticipated. It was nearly enough to incinerate him where he stood!
As the simmering amber gaze focused on the spot from which Kagome had vanished, Sesshoumaru wondered how he had suppressed the urge to touch her. How had he resisted the very compelling desire to run claw tipped fingers along the tempting planes of her smooth stomach, her arms, toned from years of archery, her legs feminine but strong from trekking across the unforgiving terrain of a time and place from which she had not originated?
Perhaps it was the same influence that had stayed his hand back in the alcove? The faint, but alluring scent of her arousal had not escaped his notice though he had refused to acknowledge it. He had been torn between the desire to remain there with her, the unexpected and slightly perplexing need to find escape as quickly as possible. Finally, he had decided that it was best to escape. Sesshoumaru was a demon who prided himself on his self control, but even he apparently had his limits.
A faint crinkle formed on the inu lord’s brow. These limits, he decided with begrudging acceptance, were something he had been unaware of until his acquaintance with the miko.
Still, Kagome held a great deal of trust in him therefore his growing desire for her would have to be handled with great care. He was fairly certain that the little miko was ill prepared for what an aroused youkai lord could do to her.
A slow smirk formed on his lips. He would need to utilize a level of patience, but he would not allow her to remain in ignorance for much longer. __________________________________________________________________ ______
Her flushed skin cooling quickly in the chilled water, Kagome was nearly forced to resurface and draw another deep breath. Suppressing the urge, she managed to recover from the shock, slowly opened her eyes and began to swim.
Though surprisingly clear, the water blurred her vision and ate up the dwindling sunlight the deeper she sank into the pool. In spite of the water’s temperature, a slow burn began to make itself known as her muscles strained with the effort of treading the icy liquid around her. In a short time she had made it to the bottom and her attention was drawn by a slow, but steady current brushing against her skin. Turning toward its source, she saw an area of one of the far walls which was slightly darker than its surroundings.
‘A tunnel!’ she realized with both dread and relief. The key’s energy was strong in that direction, but the idea of entering an underwater tunnel was not a pleasant one. Steeling her resolve and ignoring her body’s calls for oxygen, the miko pushed her muscles into overdrive. It did not take long to make it to the wall, and she hesitated for only a moment before entering the channel. Because if its angle, very little light was able to enter the passage and Kagome’s sense of discomfiture began to increase. Still, she forced herself to proceed, arms and legs propelling her further and further into its murky depths.
The flowing water against her skin soon became more persistent and though she could hardly see, Kagome knew she was no longer moving forward. The force of the water’s flow an that of her own propulsion had equalized. It was as if she was on a treadmill, no matter how fast she swam, she would remain in the same spot.
Realizing it was of no use to continue, and becoming uncomfortably more aware of her body’s need for air, Kagome ceased her movements and let the water push her back out of the channel. Moving as swiftly as her aching muscles would allow the priestess hastily made her way back to the much needed oxygen.
The water’s surface broke over her head with a loud splash, and the miko began greedily sucking air into her deprived lungs. Running her hands through her slick wet hair to get it away from her face, she had to blink several times before her eyes started to adjust.
“Do you require assistance?” a calm voice spoke from behind her and Kagome immediately turned around, her thick mane splashing the water again.
Shaking her head to indicate a negative response, Kagome drew another deep breath before she swam back to the stone ledge.
“I couldn’t… I couldn’t get the key.” she finally managed, still clearly out of breath. Before he could ask why, she pulled herself out of the water to sit on the ledge, her feet still dangling in the water. Carefully wringing the excessive moisture from her hair, Kagome did not notice the covetous gaze being leveled upon her. “There’s a tunnel down there.” she said distractedly, her attention focused on her task. “The tunnel has water flowing through it and I could only get so far… I’m not strong enough to push through the current.”
Tossing the still heavy strands over her shoulder, Kagome finally looked up at him. “I think… you need to come with me.” When he simply raised a brow she continued, “I know the key is in that tunnel and I think I’m supposed to be the one to retrieve it, but I’m not strong enough to reach it on my own.”
The demon lord’s thoughts on this development would remain obscure to her though his willingness to help was evident in the movement of his fingers to the thick, luxurious pelt he wore over his shoulder. Almost as if daring her to look away, which she most certainly would have otherwise, his eyes bored into hers.
Kagome was like a woman bewitched as one article after another was stripped away. First there was the pelt, then the elaborately tied obi followed by the armor; each item being placed a short distance from where he stood. It was only when he began to untie the sash that secured his hakama that the miko finally averted her gaze, her cheeks again flaming in spite of the coolness of her damp skin.
Missing the smirk that formed on her companion’s lips Kagome focused her attention on her hands which were now clasped in her lap. Attempting to keep her mind blank, she was not fully able to escape the whispering thoughts that mentioned how fortuitous it was that they were alone and how interesting an experience it would be that they were both going to be wearing nothing but thin scraps of cloth that covered nothing but their nether regions. Absently, the slightly flustered priestess felt a drop of moisture slide down the side of her face and couldn’t decide if it was water or sweat.
Unable to sit there any longer with the flush she knew was crawling over her skin, the miko pushed off the stone ledge and dropped back into the pool. She was now finding the cool water welcoming and she relaxed her still fatigued muscles with a small sigh. Her eyes staring glassily at the stone wall on the opposite side of the pool, Kagome started almost violently when the water shifted beside her.
“Oh!” she cried intelligently, having just now reemerged from whatever trance she had slipped into.
Her surprised gaze was met with the deliciously toned planes of a distinctively male chest and Kagome immediately forgot how to breathe. Her fingers twitched with the instinctual desire to reach out and touch him but the miko suppressed the move before it could be made. Drinking in every delectable line of muscle that was visible above the water, her eyes eventually made it to the youkai lord’s face. He was staring down at her, his expression characteristically blank aside from a tiny glimmer in his eyes that spoke faintly of amusement.
“I-I wasn’t staring!” she snapped guiltily.
“Clearly.” returned dryly, his lips surrendering to a tiny quirk.
Before she could berate him for his arrogance the demon spoke up again. “Now, do you wish to get going or would you prefer to continue your daydreaming?”
“I wasn’t daydreaming either!” she scowled halfheartedly. “Umm, h-how are we going to do this?” she asked, her eyes straying again.
Sesshoumaru noticed and felt his smirk threaten to spread. If nothing else, he decided, the attraction was mutual.
Pushing his thoughts aside for later exploration, the inu lord turned away from her an swept his long wet hair aside to expose his back.
Probably because he was observing her over his shoulder, Kagome refrained from ogling the muscles he exposed with the movement of his hair. Instead, she hesitantly moved forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ignoring the temptation to explore, the miko kept her greedy little fingers were they were as she adjusted herself against his back.
“Umm, the tunnel is that way.” she said as she extended an arm to point him in the right direction. She was answered with a curt nod before she clasped her arms tightly around him again.
“Are you ready?” she heard him ask.
“Yeah,” she told him before drawing a deep breath and holding it. The demon silently did the same before he dove into the water. Kagome, surprised at how fast he swam was forced to tighten her grip. If she didn’t need to hold her breath, she would have laughed at the exhilarating feeling of moving so swiftly through the water. Trailing them like banners, their hair, shadowy midnight and silvery moonlight mingled together in the water as the distance between them and the tunnel shrank into nothing.
The demon entered the channel without pausing and was soon facing the current that had so quickly turned Kagome away. His movements seemingly unimpeded, Sesshoumaru swam deep into the dark passage.
The priestess tightened her grip further as the combination of his speed and the increasing velocity of the current threatened to pull her away from him. Her eyes, though squinted against the rapidly moving water soon picked up a faint blue glimmer an indeterminate distance away from them. As he continued to propelled them forward, the glow eventually took on a distinctive shape. Elongated, and round on one end, she knew it could only be one thing.
‘The key!’ she realized gleefully. She chanced freeing an arm to reach out as the glowing object came into an attainable distance. Seeing the outstretched limb but not what she was reaching for, Sesshoumaru began to slow down. As they were already near the floor he was able to keep the current from pushing them back by grabbing hold of a protruding section of stone. Stretching as far as she could Kagome soon wrapped her fingers around the object’s elongated center. Giving it a light tug, she was met with disappointment when the key did not immediately dislodge. Redoubling her efforts as her body began to scream for air, Kagome gritted her teeth and gave an insistent yank. The key finally gave way freeing also a small chunk of stone which pelted the miko just above her left eye.
Surprised by the jolt of pain, her grip on Sesshoumaru loosened and Kagome was swept away. Screaming inside her mind, the miko’s flipped end over end as the merciless torrent shoved her further and further away from him. Before she could reach the channel’s exit, a strong arm wrapped around her.
She was pulled tightly against the flexing muscles of Sesshoumaru’s body just in time to avoid scraping her shoulder against a jagged protrusion of stone. Almost before she could register what happened, both she and her companion broke the water’s surface.
Coughing up water from her premature gasp, Kagome lowered her face and tried to push away from him. Though the demon lord made no move to release her, he loosened his hold allowing her to catch her breath. Once she was sufficiently composed, the miko’s attention was instantly drawn to her left hand and the object still clutched within. Bringing it up for closer inspection, she gasped quietly when her questing gaze was met with a golden key. Larger than she expected, the key was nearly as long as her hand. One end fashioned with several precisely shaped teeth, the other was adorned with the most exquisite gem she had ever seen; a shimmering blue aquamarine.
It was clearly a royal artifact.
“We did it!” she announced enthusiastically. Turning an exuberant smile on him she continued, “We got the first key!”
Her excitement was exchanged for an emotion she dared not name when she noted how the demon lord’s attention seemed to be focused on her rather than the object she held. __________________________________________________________________ ______