InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shivering Sands ❯ Quiver ( Chapter 12 )

A/N: I had a pretty fun time writing this chapter, actually I'm having fun writing the whole thing. Hope you enjoy. :)

 

It was a beautiful evening some weeks later, with luminous clouds doting the multicolored sky; the moon bright and clear as it appeared upon the horizon and a warm breeze swept through the air. Kagome gazed appreciatively at Sesshomaru as she snuck a peak beneath her lashes toward where he had emerged moments ago.

 

He stood upon the porch on the phone with his office manager after being away for a substantial part of today and yesterday, his eyes upon her as she read a book. Her cheeks pinked, and her pulse sped up slightly

 

Sesshomaru noticed her increase in heart rate and chucked to himself, feeling a supreme sense of satisfaction with his existence at the moment. His eyes flickered as he thought of the night prior...

 

~~~

 

After finishing the last stroke with her hair brush, Kagome left the bathroom to find Sesshomaru already in the bed with his eyes closed. `He's asleep?' she wondered. `He must be exhausted, he never sleeps before I do. He did leave early this morning, before the sun was even up,' she thought.

 

She slowly walked toward the end of the bed where he lay sleeping upon his back. His face with its violet crescent moon, seemed infinitesimally strained. She stared at his body, feeling overwhelmingly tender toward him.

 

`I want...I want.'

 

She felt compelled to be with him beyond anything she understood as she climbed up his form to rest her body against his. As his eyes flickered open, he found her face before him, her eyes before his, her mouth but inches from his own.

 

She gazed at him with solemn eyes for but a second before her lips met his, softly, hesitantly. His pulse quickened at her actions and his eyes warm. She had never previously taken this much initiative. He was indeed tired, but he couldn't resist her like this, not that he would ever want to.

 

She wanted to hold him to her, to be close to him like she never had before. “I want...,” she whispered to him as he slid his hands around her back; she tilted her head up and leaned into his mouth, sliding her arms about him as he kissed her neck.

 

“You want...,” he said, his amber eyes dark, sensual.

 

What she wanted she just couldn't articulate, it was beyond anything she ever wanted before; it was as if she had to possess him, she had to be with him, she needed no preliminaries.

 

As she settled herself atop his pulsating shaft, her lips just touching his, she whispered, “You. I want you.”

 

~*~

 

It was still dark as he opened his eyes and focused on the girl sleeping beside him. She lay on her side with her back to him, her dark hair swept over her head toward the headboard, with her lovely nape exposed, sleeping peacefully.

 

She had surprised him last night, her coming to him the way she did He lay there but for one second longer as he suppressed the urge to remain and began to dress.

 

She awoke later that morning, lying flat on her stomach, with her beautiful hair still swept over her head, her body bare except for the sheet. She glanced at the empty spot next to her and immediately blushed as she remembered last night.

 

She still couldn't explain her feeling toward him, that urge to be with him that she felt so strongly, as if she wanted to consume him. Flickers of memory from his leaving this morning came to mind, of him smoothing her hair, of her eyes opening infinitesimally as he told her he had somewhere to be before she slipped back into slumber.

 

~~~

 

She blushed again as he came toward her, bringing her sharply back into the present, but she didn't look away. She raised her eyes over the level of her book, and pushed it to the side as he stood before her. “You're back,” she said thoughtfully.

 

“Mhmm,” he said, his appraising. “I'm glad,” she said, her eyes sweeping over him, “You were gone a long time.” He said nothing as he held his palm out. She sat up some and took it. “We're still going,” she asked quietly as he pulled her up. His look gave his assent.

 

~~~

 

“Kagome,” Sana exclaimed when she saw her daughter, “Sesshomaru, I'm so happy to see you.” “Mom,” she said, flinging herself into her mother's embrace. Even though she had seen her a few days ago, it was something about her mother's beautiful face.

 

“Sana,” Sesshomaru said courteously, “you look well.” “Oh, thank you,” she said pleased as she and Kagome disengaged. “What brings you by?”

 

She looked up at Sesshomaru. “Just came up to see you,” she said, smiling as Souta ran to her. “Hey brat,” she said lovingly, as he gave her a quick hug and then pulled back in embarrassment; he was still young enough to express some measure of open affection before he squirmed too much.

 

He froze as he saw Sesshomaru sitting on the couch, “Hi,” he said, fiddling with his multicolored cube toy. Sana never informed Souta nor Grandpa where Kagome was, they simply assumed she was still living at the dorms.

 

“Souta,” Sana said, “this is Sesshomaru. InuYasha's brother.” “Souta,” Sesshomaru said in acknowledgment. The young boy seemed to find his voice. “Really,” he squeaked after some time. “Cool. Is InuYasha still around?”

 

He and Kagome's eyes met for a brief second as hers flickered with sadness.

“No,” Sesshomaru said carefully, “I don't believe so.” “Aww,” Souta said, the implications flying over his head. “I wanted to show him my new games.”

 

He looked down at the cube and continued trying to get all the colors to match up on the four sides of the cube. “Let me try,” Sesshomaru said quietly. Souta nodded. He took the cube, turned it seven times, and the cube was perfectly aligned in all the proper colors.

 

“Wow,” Souta exclaimed, “that's so cool! How did you do that?” “What are these games you speak of,” Sesshomaru said curiously as Souta scrambled to give him a controller.

 

Kagome looked at the two of them in the kitchen and chuckled, they seemed to be getting along fine.

 

“How is everything,” her mom said low as she rolled the seaweed sheets. “Its good Mom, really,” she said as softly as she could. Sana nodded. “It makes me happy to see you with him like this, it lets me know you are okay.”

 

“I'm fine,” she assured her. “So anyway,” Sana said her normal tone, “you have a bunch of messages.” “Hmm, I do,” she said half heartedly as she watched as Souta tried valiantly to explain to Sesshomaru what a video game was, and she snorted softly with laughter at the dubious expression on his face.

 

“What are you cooking,” she said, sniffing appreciably. “Hot and Sour soup, fried rice, kabobs and calamari.” “In other words,” Kagome said with a smile, “my favorites.” “Mhmm. You will stay for dinner wont you?”

 

“I wouldn't miss it for the world,” she said sincerely. She laughed as she looked again at Sesshomaru. Souta had somehow gotten through to him once he explained that they were like two samurais battling against each other, and he looked incredulous as Souta began hitting him in the match.

 

She nudged Sana to come look as Sesshomaru's natural competitive instinct took over and he began fighting back as efficiently as he always had. Sana laughed. “Men, no matter the species, will always be men.” Kagome giggled. She found something really comforting about that.

 

~~~

 

They sat at dinner, with Sesshomaru surprising Kagome by eating the kabobs her mother cooked rarely for him. She had difficulty in keeping Grandpa from putting sacred seals all over Sesshomaru; he had refrained but still regarded him suspiciously, while Sesshomaru only betrayed his amusement at the old man by his eyes.

 

“Oh, yes dear, as I was saying,” Sana began, “Yuka told me to remind you that you and your friends were supposed to meet this weekend for the movies and that if you don't show up, they are coming to get you,” she said with a smile.

 

“Oh yeah, that's right, I forgot,” she said shaking her head. “We're supposed to go to dinner and a movie or something.”

 

“Why do you not go,” Sesshomaru asked curiously. He had no problem with her going where she wanted, or doing whatever she pleased, so he was curious about her apparent hesitation

 

“Well...,” she hedged, not particularly wanting to explain to him that the majority of the time would be spent either harassing her about not having a guy or hooking her up with a guy.

 

“I plan on going, Its just no telling what those girls have up their sleeve,” she said slowly. “They can get a little crazy sometimes.” He inclined his head slightly. “Perhaps that is the kind of activity you need. You should attend.”

 

Sana smiled, pleased from what she saw of their interaction, that he encouraged her and allowed her to go as she pleased. It all seemed to be going very well.

 

~*~

 

“See you later guys,” Kagome said as they walked out, “Thanks so much for dinner mom, I'll see you soon.”

 

“Wonderful darling, I'll see you soon,” she said, waving brightly at the two.

 

“Bye Sesshomaru,” Souta said, “We'll play again next time okay,” he said, frowning at the paper Grandpa was throwing over his shoulder as the seal he waved around. “Now what is that going to do,” he said brushing his shoulder to remove the residue from the seal.

 

“That seals demons from returning,” Grandpa said busily. Souta screwed up his face. “Didn't you put one up before he got here?” Grandpa's face twitched as he stood with his hands behind his back.

 

~~~

 

The two were quiet as they walked near the meadow that led to the beach house. He had surprised her, with their impromptu visit to her family, and she was pleased by his intuition, she did miss them particularly at that moment. Her eyes grew soft with remembrance of that first night as they passed through the two pronged rock, the wind whipping the powder white sand.

 

As they neared the sight of the pretty house, she asked, “We're staying here?” He said nothing as he paused, nodding as he met her eyes. She reached out and rubbed her knuckles against the blue silk sash tied at his waist.

 

Then, she slid her arms about him, leaning her chin against his chest as she gazed at him . He in turn, smoothed her bangs contemplatively as he beheld her beautiful eyes solemnly.

 

~~~

 

It was later that night as she lay in the bath that Kagome noticed a strange shadow in the room that appeared to morph and expand in its shape. She stared harder at it and was astonished as it began to move closer to her.

 

She could feel her heart thumping madly as she realized that it wasn't a shadow but human. It was Kikyo, walking toward her slowly from the far depths of the mirror. Kagome moved backward in shock as Kikyo emerged, in modern dress, that dangerous half smile upon her lips.

 

Kikyo shook her head slowly and began laughing low, as if she was taunting her. She seized Kagome by the neck and pushed her under the water.

 

Kagome flicked her eyes open with a start and a soft gasp, calming when she realized where she was, within the cabin with Sesshomaru lying by her side. She swallowed deeply as she breathed shakily.

 

As loathe as she was to admit it, Kikyo had always terrorized her. Her virulent hatred of InuYasha, mingled with her undying love for him, coupled with her disdain of Kagome as well as stealing her soul and her attempts to kill and subjugate her were just some of the many factors that made Kagome fear Kikyo.

 

Sesshomaru had opened his eyes the second before her own, the rapid thud of her heartbeat ringing in his ears. He lay upon his back, she lay close with her back to him.

 

He could feel her fear, the apprehension rolling off of her body in waves, as he waited with his eyes nearly closed to watch over her unawares. Her breathing slowed and her heart rate eventually returned to normal. He relaxed somewhat but still remained alert for some time.

 

She exhaled shakily as she lay against him. it was a long time before she slept.

 

~~~

 

The days blended one into another as time passed by idyllically for them both.

 

One night, they sat quietly outside gazing up at the glowing sky; her eyes wide as a shooting star passed by. She looked at him as he continued to watch it descend. "You get to make a wish you know."

 

He arched his brow at her. "Really," he said.

 

"Really. Make a wish."

 

He was silent for a moment, and then looked at her. "Don't tell anyone or else it wont come true," she said seriously. He nodded and she laid her head in his lap.

 

She looked up at him beguilingly. "Can I feel on it?" she asked low.

 

Inwardly he smirked, though on the outside, his face was passive. "What is it you wish to feel on?" He loved making her say it.

 

She blinked her lashes prettily. "Can I feel on your mokomoko-sama?"

 

The inner smirk deepened and he struggled not to laugh aloud. Kagome felt a burst of energy from him and the cloud of white pelt appeared. She loved to touch upon it, the soft, soft pelt accompanied by his energy, a sort of demon wind, was a very heady experience. Not to mention that he loved the feel of her hands caressing that part of him.

 

She turned over to the side facing him and began rubbing her nose against it. He chuckled to himself and his energy undulated from him in waves. She lay languidly against him as it poured over her, her nose against his pelt.

 

She loved when he did that, it was another trait of his, that demon wind, with it, he could touch her without touching her, as he was at this moment. He pulled it back somewhat to undue the languid spell that had fallen over her. For her, it was a soothing massage, and at times could almost immobilize her.

 

She blinked slowly and turned her face up toward his. "Tomorrow I'm meeting my friends, I haven't hung out with them much the past few weeks.” She smiled slightly. “They'll send out a search team if I don't go ." He nodded. “As you should. Enjoy yourself.” They held one another's gaze, then she resumed rubbing her nose against the momo, her eyes smiling at him.

 

~~~

 

"Kagome!" squealed Ayume as she came abreast of the three girls, "You look Gorgeous!" Eri nodded vigorously. "I'll say! Your positively glowing. Your mom told us you had been away."

 

Kagome smiled. "Hi guys," she said sweetly. "Are you ready?"

 

Yuka gave her an appraising look. "We want to talk about how good you look. Someone who looks that happy must have been with a guy who is making her so."

 

Kagome blanched. "What? Come on," she said with a blush. "I've just been been in a really good mood lately."

 

Yuka raised her brows and pressed further. "Are you sure? You sure its not that gorgeous guy we saw you with before? The one with the silver hair?"

 

"No Yuka, he's just a friend, that's all," she said, wanting to get away from her inquisitive friend's questions. "So what bus are we going to catch?” She looked around, “Where are the other girls?"

 

"Oh, the number seven," said Ayume said, dismissive. The three of them looked around as if they were waiting on something. "What is it," Kagome asked suspiciously.

 

Eri looked at her innocently. "Nothing."

 

"Ayume," said Hojo coming abreast of the girls followed closely by his friend Kino Kiro, Toshi Shinsingua and Jin. "Oh lord," Kagome muttered under her breath. They did it again. She had been thoroughly duped.

 

“What happened to just hanging out with the girls, Yuka,” she gritted out with a megawatt smile and huge probing eyes.

 

“Now Kagome, be reasonable,” she said breezily. “Jin is crazy about you, he asks about you all the time, and the two of you were supposed to go out on a date, so why not when ALL of us are going out on a date, ne? She smiled winningly at Kino. “Hi there, handsome,” she said to Kino, her date for the evening.

 

Jin came abreast of Kagome, and his eyes lit up. “Kagome. Its been a while,” he said smoothly, openly admiring her form as her friends looked on excitedly.

 

“Err, Hi, Jin. I've just been really caught up with stuff, family, school, things like that,” she said, glancing at the ground. `He really is cute though,' she thought, reluctantly admiring his wavy dark hair and a very strong athletic build.

 

He nonchalantly cracked his knuckles and raised his arms over his head as he stretched. “Yeah, I know the feeling, I've been really busy too, soccer and all,” he said breezily.

 

Yuka interrupted the talking couples. “So, like are we going to eat or what,” she said airily as she looked at them all askance. Toshi paused in his conversation with Eri. “Chill Yuka, we're going now,” he said laughing. “Lets go.”

 

As the three couples turned, Jin casually put his arm around Kagome's shoulders, and her eyes practically bugged out of her head. “Come on,” he said, enjoying the feel of her against him.

 

She sighed mentally. She felt very uncomfortable; she didn't want to ruin her friends fun, because they thought she was all alone and they were doing her a favor, and he was extremely attractive, but how could they understand what awaited her at the castle?

 

“Kagome, Jin, come on,” said Yuka, exasperated but giddy at seeing Jin with his arms about her. “We're coming,” the both said in unison. Their eyes met as he gazed at her with sensual dark eyes, and she blushed uneasily.

 

~~~

 

Sesshomaru drummed his fingers against his desk and looked at the messenger icily. The young man nervously delivered the files, and stood waiting for further instruction. "Inform Ichiro that this simply will not do," he said coldly.

 

The messenger nodded vigorously and made good his escape. After his exit, the board of directors entered, each bowing and pontificating before him. "Ah, Sesshomaru-sama, the American investors have arrived." Greetings were exchanged among investors to which he regally inclined his head.

 

As one of the investors spoke, his CFO translated the conversation. Sesshomaru didn't bother to inform him that he understood every word. That was an idiosyncrasy of his, that they never understood just how much he did know.

 

“They propose that we discuss the acquisition at Bento, the five star sushi restaurant, sir,” Wantabe said. He raised his brow as he considered the idea, and nodded his acquiescence of their proposal. "I find that acceptable," he said, and they scurried to get the limousines ready.

 

~~~

 

“This is the best place in Japan,” Eri said as they were all seated at the elegant restaurant. It was very spacious, the interior done in exquisite deep red and gold coloring with soft candle light throughout, the golden wooded floors infused with a beige carpet overlay with red swirls.

 

They all sat cross-legged upon enormous golden pillows, the girls on one side, the guys on the other.

 

“I can't believe we got reservations, there is a three week waiting list,” Ayume said, leaning on both elbows, her chin in her hands as she made eyes at Hojo, who raised both brows at her and smiled. “Jin took care of it,” he said.

 

“Really,” Yuka said with wide, knowing eyes. “Why, Jin, that is so nice of you,” she said in mock surprise. “Why would you do a thing like that?”

 

He took his eyes which were narrowed in amusement off of Yuka and flicked them to Kagome, who sat across from him. He gazed at her intently, making his thoughts and intentions clear. She blushed heavily and pinched Yuka hard in exasperation.

 

“What,” Yuka whispered as the chefs cooked the meal before them.

 

“Cut it Out,” she gritted low.

 

“What's going on,” Ayume whispered, as she sat to Kagome's right. “Oh, Kagome quit it, this guy is crazy about you,” Yuka whispered hotly. “Okay, what's the deal, Kagome,” Eri said from the other side of Yuka.

 

“Its nothing, its nothing, I'm just going to kill you guys later, just be quiet, they're looking at us,” Kagome said hotly with her teeth gritted in a pleasant smile, and indeed, the guys were looking at them all in confusion.

 

“Heh, heh, the food's ready,” the girls all said nervously in unison, Kagome then hurriedly picking up a piece of shrimp, and swallowed it heavily.

 

***

 

“We need to hurry, the movie is going to start soon,” Ayume said as she linked arms with Hojo. Kino took his ear away from his cellphone. “Yeah, the manager says the theater is loaded, we need to leave now.”

 

Yuka reached his side and stared pointedly at Kagome. “Kagome,” Jin said as he stood before her gazing at her intently. “Come on, we'll have more of a chance to talk while we're in there,” he said, prodding the small of her back.

 

~~~

 

“Sesshomaru-sama, I do hope that this will be to your satisfaction,” his assistant said as the huge party entered the restaurant. “We shall see,” he said, ignoring the many stares that came his way as he sat down at the center of the table.

 

The proprietor scuttled over to him quickly along with an army of waiters. “What will you have sir,” he said as he bowed before him.

 

“Mint tea and Kobe steak,” he said nonchalantly. “Rare. Extremely rare,” he said deliberately. The waiters then rushed to fulfill his order. “Now, sir, we have to tell you more about the proposed plans for expansion...” they began.

 

He was only half listening. A scent came to him then, very faint but as familiar as any he had ever known. He thought of her then, of whether she was enjoying herself with her friends or was she even now heading back to the castle, waiting for him.

 

He almost smiled. That thought pleased him as he remembered how nice she had been to him the night before. `Very Nice,' he thought his face in a catlike smile.

 

“So that proposition pleases you sir,” the director asked curious at the look upon his face. “I will have to think it over,” he said as the food arrived.

 

~~~

 

“I think there are some seats down below,” Toshi said as they all walked into the crowded theater. Kagome sighed in irritation. `Gods this is uncomfortable,' she thought as Jin walked very close in front of her, casually glancing at her over his shoulder.

 

She hated this, to lead him on. It was one thing to go as friends, but he was obviously very interested and it made her nervous. `I don't want to hurt his feelings, he's adorable but...'

 

They all sat down in the seats, Ayume, Hojo, Jin, Kagome, Yuka, Kino, Eri and Toshi, respectively. Yuka gave her a nudge with her foot, and Kagome glared at her hotly.

 

“So, what's been up with you,” Jin asked as the movie got underway. She glanced at him. “What do you mean,” she said with confusion. “Well, I've tried hitting you up, but you're never around. I've thought about you since the last time we met,” he said, passively, then gazed at her intently.

 

“Oh, really,” she said nervously looking at the rest of her friends, who were snuggled up, or holding hands. “Yeah. So what's the deal? Do you not like me,” he said, his eyebrow raised. as he put on a winsome smile.

 

She laughed, then sighed. “No, I like you, but...ow,” she said low as Yuka kicked her hard. She gave her a look that would positively freeze someone else, but her friend wasn't deterred. “Good,” he said putting his arm about her, “because I like you too,” he said with eyes narrowed in satisfaction.

 

A few more minutes passed as Kagome's discomfort grew higher and higher, she couldn't explain it but alarm bells were going off. When at a particularly scary part of the film, everyone in the theater shrieked wildly as Jin turned her chin toward him gently and made a move to kiss her.

 

Her eyes widened in surprise and she screeched as his lips were but inches from hers.

 

“I've gotta go,” she said, throwing his arm off of her and inching past Hojo. Yuka grunted in exasperation, “Kagome get back here! We're going after her,” she said to Jin, yanking up Kino in the process and the whole gang followed suit.

 

`I am not in the mood for this,' Kagome thought as she reached the outside and started marching up the block. The gang followed her out in an absurd single file line.

 

Yuka made it outside even faster than Jin. “Kagome, You're screwing up everything, this guy really likes you,” she wailed.

 

“There goes our great quadruple date,” Eri said shaking her head in exasperation.

 

“Yuka don't say things like that,” Ayume said as she came abreast of them.

 

“I wonder what happened,” Hojo said looking perplexed.

 

“What's going on,” said Kino, scratching his head.

 

Toshi pulled his ear away from his cell phone, “What's the deal, yo?”

 

“Kagome, what the,” Jin said as they all bounded up the street.

 

Sesshomaru stood outside the restaurant with his financial advisors and a crowd of people as they prepared to depart. He listened passively to his advisor as he spoke about closing the transaction when he smelled that oh-so-familiar scent, and turned his head. He raised his brow at the gaggle of people chasing after Kagome as she stalked up the street and then he said but one word.

 

"Kagome.”

 

The velvety voice of Sesshomaru came to her and she gazed at him in surprise. The gang's eyes widened and to a man, they all slid to a stop to stare at him at the same time. She inhaled softly. "Sesshomaru," she said softly, slowly pulling herself away from the group, and moving to stand before him.

 

It was a comical moment, made even more amusing as seemingly everyone on the street paused to stare at the commotion.

 

She didn't care. “I want to go home,” she in a very soft tone that only he alone heard clearly.

 

His eyes laughed at her, at the hilarity of the moment, and the tinniest of smiles crossed his mouth because he knew she was going to be very nice to him when they were alone.

 

He flicked his hand up to the staring investors. “This is over. I'll be in touch,” he said after he loaded her into the limo, then got in himself and they took off.

 

There was a decided moment of silence among the spectators before it was broken by Ayume. “So, um...Jin...yeah, I think my friend Kaori just may be perfect for you...” Everyone else nodded slowly in agreement.

 

One of the group of trustees just shook his head at the departing car. “How are we getting home,” he whispered loudly. “He's got our briefcases in the car...”