InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Ad ❯ Changing Tides: High Tides ( Chapter 24 )

Warning: What do you think? This story is rated R/NC-17 for a reason.

Ch. 24

Changing Tides: High Tides

The light was dim in the inu youkai lord's room as he carefully packed a duffle bag. He had only returned from his brother's wedding a few minutes prior, his mind made up. Taking only the essential, he packed lightly, his movements slow and lethargic as he stepped into his walk in closet to examine his small collection of casual clothes.

"You're home early." Rin whispered as she stepped into the darken room, surprised to see the bag on his bed.

"The party was over. I take it you didn't do anything else either." He said as he examined her blue Bubble's pajamas.

"Came strait home like I promised…well, we did stop for ice cream."

"I figured you would." He said as he placed his toothbrush and favorite brush in the bag.

"It's a little late to pack for goodwill, don't you think?" She asked with mirth in her eyes. "And, I don't think anyone would want your used toothbrush."

"I'm going on a trip." He explained as he decided what shoes he was going to wear.

"Is there a problem in the office? Do you need to go abroad again?" She asked cautiously.

"Yes, but not for business." Quiet resignation laced his voice. Grabbing a comfortable pair of kakis and his favorite sweater, he moved into his bathroom. Rin picked her words carefully as she raised her voice for him to hear her.

"I saw you dancing with Kagura. I was impressed. I didn't know you two were such good dancers." When he didn't answer, she continued. "A few of the guests even asked me if you two were together…they said you look like a couple."

Sesshomaru took that moment to storm out of the bathroom, letting the door slam behind him. He didn't speak as he grabbed a pair of socks and his winter boots, something he hadn't work in over six years. "It would be best if you got all silly notions of Kagura being your mother out of your head." He said icily. A shiver ran down her spine.

"But-but, she's perfect."

"Not for me."

"I'm sure you two could fall in love." She pleaded, tears forming on the edges of her eyes.

"We are in love." He growled lowly.

"Then, what's the problem?"

"She doesn't want me, and quite frankly, I'm tired of begging." He answered in a tone that should have left no room for argument.

"So that's it? You are going to let her go because you're too proud?" At fifteen, she was good at ignoring his subtle warnings.

"It's her pride!" He corrected, eyes clouded with anger.

"And whose pride was it when you let her go with uncle Inu?" Sesshomaru caught his hand before he even lifted it, fear rushing to his stomach. In all these years, this would have been the first time he would have ever hit his daughter, had he lost control. Taking a deep breath for both their sakes, he answered,

"We have hurt each other too much, Rin. You need to learn that you can't have everything you want, no matter how hard you want it. I'm tired of being alone." He raised his index finger when she began to talk. "You will grow up and leave this house. I want a companion, and maybe, someday, more children. I'm going to take the weekend at the cabin. There, I'll decide where I want to go. Maybe France…I could marry a supermodel, then you would always have the latest fashions, even before they're out."

"I don't care about fashion." Rin pouted as she stumped her foot and folded her arms before her. "I care about what makes my family happy…and that's Kagura."

"Sweetheart," Sesshomaru moved towards pushing her bangs from her face, "you can't know that. This might be the best thing for all of us. I get to let go; Kagura will move on, and with any luck you'll get a mother. Either way, you will get to see Paris this summer."

"What about the company? You can't leave it without leadership!"

"You're uncle can handle the board." He dismissed as he picked up his bag.

"He's on his honeymoon for two whole weeks."

"I don't think even the board can sink the company in that time. But, just in case, I'll provide leadership from where ever I am." He made a mental note to pick up his laptop on his way out. "I'll give you a call when I get to where ever I'm going. You'll see; it'll be the best summer of your life. Oh, and I leave Jaken in charge, so don't harass him too much." With that he closed the door to his room and all her hopes for a happy family. Rin fell on her knees and began to sob.

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"Inu Yasha." Kagome gasped as her amber eyed lover began to move above her once again. He was starting their fourth round, and Kagome was exhausted.

"I love it when you gasp my name." He growled as he nipped his mark on her neck. She screamed as the simple action brought on another orgasm.

"How?" She asked with confused eyes.

"Benefits of the mark." He whispered huskily into her ear. Kami, he loved to seduce her.

"Mark?" She asked surprised enough to find energy to sit up. She traced her fingers over the bite mark sensing his aura irradiating from the scar. "We mated?"

"Not fully, but we did initiate it." He explained as he took her into his arms and laid back on the bed. She rested her head on his chest as she listened to him speak. "It was my fault…when I realize you were…why didn't you tell me?" He asked suddenly remembering the barrier.

"I thought you knew…the thong and all." It took him a few minutes to realize what she was talking about.

"You said you and Hobo were sexually incompatible; I always assumed you two had…after ten years…" He added.

"Would it change anything?"

"In the beginning, yes…I wouldn't have been half the asshole I was."

"Why should it have mattered? Aren't I worth the same with or without my hymen?"

Inu Yasha struggled to answer as she raised her blue-grey eyes to him. "You're right, but I was a pompous ass at the time."

"Glad that you can admit it." She smiled when he gave her a fake look of hurt. "So, the marking was a mistake?" She asked returning their conversation to the correct subject.

"I hope you don't really mean that." He replied with a bit of hurt in his voice.

"You're the one that said it, or insinuated that it was your fault, as if it had been something bad. I'm not too familiar with youkai mating…I don't know what to think of it." She gave him an innocent stare as he relaxed below her, his hand caressing the back of her head lightly.

"What I meant was that I initiated the mating, without properly asking your consent first. When I realized the truth, the joy and pride of knowing I was your first pushed me to claim you."

"The famous inu youkai possessive trait?" She asked with sarcasm.

"It was more the moment of fulfillment. It was as if you had been placed on this Earth for me to find, and re-mark, re-mate." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Youkai mating binds the souls of two lovers in a magical union that will span all of time. Both shall search for each other in each life, only being satisfied by that soul. It is a large commitment, not to be taken lightly. That's why it is now done in steps. First, we plant our sent on the desired mate, then, during lovemaking, we mark with our fangs. Finally, during the mating ceremony, the mates brand each other for all to know. Each step must be reciprocated by the other. Nothing is ever done without consent."

"Do you regret it? Marking me…" She added as an afterthought.

"I don't think I could ever regret anything with you, love." He confessed as he kissed the top of her head. "Do you regret accepting my mark?" She raised her head and smiled slyly.

"Do you really think I could?" He smirked before he pinned her below him. Starting with her neck, he gently bit his way to her mouth.

"Inu Yasha please…I'm exhausted…just a little break…all I need is a little sleep." She whimpered, her body too sore to respond without pain. He nipped her earlobe before whispering, "You got ten minutes, love. Then, you're all mine."

"Baby, I'm all yours as it is." She smiled before she let him spoon her.

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Kagura sat before her vanity mirror in her red satin bottom pajama pants and matching camisole top. She had washed away all of the make up, but not the redness in her eyes, or the tears from her face. In the low light of her comfortable room, she asked her reflection, "Did I do the right thing?" Why was love so hard? She remembered something Ameya use to say to her,

"If it's worth anything, it won't come easily."

"Did you suffer, too, old friend? I bet you would be right here scolding me if you were still alive, telling me that I was a fool to let him walk out of my life. After all, `men with nice buns are hard to come by.'" Kagura choked on her laugh. "Even in death, you still make me smile…No, old friend, I have to let him go." She said firmly to her mirror as she wiped away the last of her tears. "We have too dark of a past…it will always haunt us. It's better this way." She said with a nod. "And since your remain quiet, you must agree as well!" She announced to her reflection in the mirror. "Kami!" She screamed as her phone began to ring. "You never were one to stay silent, old friend. Hello?" She answered, unprepared for the fit of tears that greeted her.

"Rin? Honey, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Yes…something horrible! I hate her! I hate her!" She cried.

"Baby, you hate who? Honey, take deep breaths…what's wrong."

"He's going to marry her! He knows I hate her, but he's going to marry her anyway!"

"Who's going to marry who? Rin, you're not making any sense!" Kagura complained, her earlier misery forgotten.

"Daddy!" She screamed in fitful teary voice. "He said he was giving up on love!"

"What does that have to do with anyone getting married?" She asked exasperated.

"He said I needed a mother! He said he was going to marry that Yura-woman! I don't want that Yura-woman!" Kagura didn't hear the rest of the sentence. The receiver had slipped from her hand, as the ability to breathe left her body.

"Kagura?" She heard Rin cry, snapping her out of her sudden shock.

"Baby?" She answered as soon as she had recovered.

"You got to stop him! He listens to you!"

"Honey, how can I stop him? He's a grown man…" She silently finished to herself, "whom I pushed into another woman's arms."

"He's going to the cabin first. The minister of the peace will meet him there tomorrow…" Rin continued, a little more composed.

"But the paperwork…" Kagura protested.

"He said he had connections up there. Kagura please!" She never heard Rin's final protest. She had caught a strange reflection in the mirror. For a second, she had seen a pair of blue-grey eyes, where hers should have been. Ameya. Picking up her car keys, she dropped the phone and ran out the door, only stopping to put on a pair of boots and her coat.

"Sesshomaru, you big idiot! What have you gotten yourself into?"

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Kagome awoke to the taste of dark chocolate in her mouth. She moaned happily as she also detected her husbands taste. She opened her eyes tiredly in time to see him kiss her. She parted her lips for him, surprised to find him slipping a piece of cake into her mouth. She tried to reprimand him, but she didn't sound too threatening with her mouth full. He chuckled as she tried to keep a straight face. "What are you doing?" She asked as after she had swallowed.

"Feeding you…you're going to need all the energy you can get for the next two weeks."

"You make it sound like we're not leaving this room." She tried to joke, but his face remained serious.

"I have no intentions of leaving your side for the next two weeks. The farthest we are going from this bed is the shower." His voice was low and gruff, reminding her of what had happened earlier.

"Inu Yasha, after we…made love for the first time," he smiled as she blushed lightly, "your youkai completely took over."

"That never happened before." He replied firmly, before adding with a smirk, "It's never been that good before."

"But…it was a bit unsettling. I wasn't sure what to do."

"You did fine. I would never hurt you, no matter what blood is running though my veins…Just remember to be submissive, if you don't like something, don't complain openly. Communicate instinctively through body language and grunts." He explained as he licked the mark he left on her neck. "Now, you've rested long enough, wife." He smirked as the word left his lips. He loved it.

"If you insist, husband." Inu Yasha growled happily as he playfully attacked her neck.

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It was almost dawn when Sesshomaru sat down in front of the fire in his silk pajama pants. He had found what was left of Inu Yasha's whiskey in one of the cabinets, and now, he was working on finishing it himself. Why did humans insist alcohol made them forget? It only made him remember: that first morning…

"Sesshomaru!" His father summoned the young youkai as Sesshomaru walked up the front steps of the elder Lord's mansion. He turned, surprised to see a beautiful young woman accompanying his father on that sunny spring day.

"New girlfriend?" He had asked without caring if he insulted the ruby-eyed beauty.

"Don't tell me your father needs to find you women?" She replied slightly annoyed. Then turned to the older inu youkai and finished, "Inu Shantino, he isn't my type, nor anyone's with good taste." She replied smartly, making the old man laugh.

"Kagura, this is my oldest son." He turned to Sesshomaru with a displeased look in his eye. The young man was examining the wind demon with surprised eyes. "Miss Kaze is the daughter of one of my old school friends. She is going to be spending the summer here with her sister, and I was hopping that you could show her around."

"That won't be necessary." She declared, as she looked Sesshomaru in the eye. "I wouldn't want to inconvenience the young Lord."

"Nonsense." Sesshomaru hadn't noticed he had spoken until he saw her surprised eyes stare him down. "I'm busy with work, but I'm sure I can do something to make up for my rudeness. Do forgive me, Miss Kaze." He stretched his hand as a peace offering. She accepted it.

"Call me Kagura."

"Sesshomaru." He replied kissing the back of her hand lightly. He was surprised to see her blush. So, she was still an innocent. He decided then, he wanted her.

He took another swing of the whiskey. Then, there had been all those times with Ameya and Keiji. It had always been women against men…

"Don't listen to them, Ameya! They're just jealous we beat them, again!" Kagura declared as she picked up the large teddy bear she had won at one of the local fairs.

"You only won because we let you, child!" Keiji replied firmly.

"Ah, the male pride…the price we must pay to love a man." Ameya laughed as she started to walk up the Shrine steps.

"Maybe next time, we won't let you win." He kissed his wife lightly as they made their way up the stairs. Ameya looked back, noticing that Kagura and Sesshomaru had crossed the threshold together.

"Stop! Don't you two know anything?" She pointed at the charms lacing the Shrine's steps. "They are for renewal and love; you must kiss or bad luck will follow you always!" Noticing they had taken a few steps, "It might be already too late!"

"Better not risk it!" Sesshomaru declared.

"Superstitious?" Kagura asked surprised.

"Precautious." He corrected as he leaned down and took her lips by surprise. It was a gentle kiss, too innocent to be misinterpreted, but lazed with all the intentions for misinterpretation.

"Whiskey…you do a lousy job of helping me forget!" He complained when he realized that the bottle was nearly empty…as empty as his bed had been every single morning after that first morning she laid beside him…

"Good morning." He whispered into her ear. She smiled and blushed. Her hair was fanned out beneath her as she curled next to him. Her beautiful face free from all makeup and frowns…just the way he liked it. She looked at him once she was fully awake. He saw the uncertainty in her eyes, followed by the fear and shame. He kissed her slowly, with his movements communicating his feelings. It was so hard to speak of love when no one ever showed you how, but for her, he was willing to learn.

"Last night…" She began, unsure of how to continue.

"Was wonderful." He finished as he looked into her beautiful red eyes. Even with her sharp tongue and decisive temper, she was naïve to the ways of the world. She sighed as she melted into his arms. He kissed her lips passionately. "I know I was your first, and I hope you understand that I shall also be your last." He whispered as he shifted his weight above her. Kissing her neck, he seduced her slowly as he made love to her once again.

Sesshomaru's ears twitched as he heard a car engine come to a stop on his driveway. "Who would bother me at this time? Who knows I'm here?" He asked himself as he threw the empty bottle in the trash. He walked towards the door, but before he could reach it, it swung open, revealing a very angry youkai.

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Kagura had been fuming during her drive to the cabin. He had taken her there! "How dare he?" She spat as she took a sharp turn, barely missing an old tree. When she got her hands on him…Yura would be a widow before she was a bride. Kagura tried to calm herself as another thought passed her mind, "That is…if we don't end up resolving our differences in the bedroom! Damn dogs! They can be Rico Suave and they still don't know how to communicate past grunts and groans." She came to a stop when she recognized his Jeep Cherokee parked in front of the infamous cabin.

He was going to hear her. "How dare he put Rin through such distress for that woman?" She grumbled as she reached the front door. Without bothering to knock, she barged in, slamming the door behind her. "You have some nerve!" She began before the fact that his well toned exposed chest was in her clear line of view.

"Excuse me?" Maybe the whiskey hadn't been such a good idea. He knew she was real. He didn't have the imagination to create such an exciting feat of beauty. Dressed in an open black coat with a red satin pajama set, her hair pulled back in a messy bun, face washed of all makeup, cheeks flushed with anger, and eyes flaring with passion, she whet his appetite. Unfortunately, she was making no sense.

"I thought you capable of many things…most not very flattering, but what you're about to do reaches a new low! It's cowardly! And, you made your daughter cry! Do you think that's right?" She asked, noticing that something wasn't quite right, but too angry to care. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'm about to do what you encouraged." He defended, his heart beating slightly faster in his chest. So, it had been his daughter who had informed the wind youkai of his plans.

"Oh, don't try to turn this on me. I never said to drop everything you hold dear…for…for…" She looked around the cabin for Yura, needing good ammunition to throw the hair youkai. In the moment of distraction, Sesshomaru moved in, as fast as a cheetah and with the stealth of a wolf. Kagura yelped as he pinned her to the door.

"You have some nerve, Kagura."

"You're alone?" Kagura looked at him surprised, failing to see the feral look in his eyes. There was an innocence in those ruby orbs that reminded the Lord of other times.

"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked, never releasing her from his hold. Her breath quickened as she felt him close in on her.

"Rin called me in a fit of tears. She was inconsolable…she said that you had left to eloped with Yura." She explained, not liking the look in his eyes.

He laughed a cold and calculated laugh. "And you believed her?"

"She's never lied to me before." Kagura defended, suddenly feeling very threatened by his gaze.

"I thought you knew me better than that, woman. But, do tell me. What were you planning to do to stop the supposed wedding?" He asked in a low growl as he pressed his body against hers.

"I-I was planning to talk some sense into you…Actually, more beating than talking." She explained, swallowing hard at the feel of his breath on her neck.

"Like you could handle me?" He teased, pushing a leg between hers.

"Do you want to see?" She asked, her eyes returning to their fury.

"I wouldn't mind." He said as he moved his hands her legs and pulled her up. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist and raised her hands to his shoulders. He smirked, having her, now, eye leveled. He could see the uncertainty and disorientation in her eyes. He had caught her off guard. "And when you saw that you couldn't beat any sense into me, what was your plan b?"

"I didn't get that far." She confessed, her mouth very dry.

"Think of it now. What would you have been willing to do to make sure I didn't marry another woman?" He pressed as he tasted her scent in his mouth. The woman was delicious.

"I-I don't know." Her voice was shaky. He moved his lips half an inch from hers.

"Are you sure?" She closed her eyes in a futile effort to stop the quite tears of fear from escaping. His lips were so close. "Kagura?" His voice was spiked with worry, and she caved as she moved closer to devour his lips. Initially, his eyes shot open with surprise, but soon closed as he returned the hungry kiss. Their tongues battled as he pressed harder against her.

"What ever it took." She answered after they broke for air. She couldn't stop the tears as exhaustion plagued her.

"Even if the price had been to mate with me?" He asked hotly against her neck. She opened her eyes in pure shock.

"Don't toy with me, Sesshomaru!" She warned, her voice cracking slightly. "I can't take much more of this." He began to lick her tears away.

"Who is toying? I'm serious Kagura. Tonight, we either mate, or we part way forever. The choice is yours." His tone was comforting, but her eyes were full of uncertainty, like the morning after they had first made love.

"How-how can you just forget the last six years? I hurt you so much! Kami, I didn't believe you, even after you swore on your mother's grave." She pleaded with him.

"I can't forget, but I would like to move on." He confessed. "I also remember the time before that. Do you remember going to the fairs? Do you remember how we met? You didn't hesitate to put me in my place!" He gave her a rare smile, one that turned her internal organs to mush. His eyes darkened as his smile became seductive, "Do you remember our first time together." She lowered her head as she blushed. "I do. I remember ever caress, every moan, even every breath." He confessed as she trembled against him.

"You said you would be the last man in my life." She reminisced.

"I still can be." He reminded her with a tender kiss on her mark.

"I don't know if I can forget, but I hate feeling this way." She confessed, tears racing down her cheeks.

"You don't have to, Kagura. We can take it one day at a time."

"It'll never be the same." She warned.

"Things never stay the same." He kissed one of her tears. "But we can still make good memories together. You said I have ruined you for other men," there was a hint of pride in his words, "but you have ruined me for other women." She raised her eyes to his, tired of fighting with her heart.

"I'm sorry." She whispered into his ear. Sighing he rested his head against her shoulder. Why did he allow himself to become hopeful? She never came through. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you…I'm sorry I slept with your brother for revenge…" She was sobbing, choking on her words. "I'm sorry for everything I have ever done to hurt you."

There was always a first time for everything.

"Shh," he began as he growled lowly, so the vibrations against her chest would sooth her, "I'm sorry too. I should have fought for you. I should have been by your side when your sister got sick…there is so much we did to hurt each other. Let's just start fresh Kagura. We deserve some happiness, don't we?" He tried to reassure as he held her body in place with his.

"Sesshomaru," she raised his head to look him in the eye, "make love to me…mark me, or I'll mark you." His lips attacked hers as he prayed that he wasn't hallucinating. After six years, they were making peace.

Without another word, he secured his arms around his future mate and carried her to the bear rug. He settled them down, one right in front of the other. Taking a moment to wipe away her tears, he kissed her forehead lightly. She didn't shed another tear that night. He pushed her coat from her shoulders as she kicked her boots off. She lowered her youki so that his would surround her. It made her feel full.

Sesshomaru growled happily when her smell intertwined with his reach his nose. She rose to her knees, placing her hands on his shoulders, allowing her youki and scent to wash his body. He leaned down and kissed her lips chastely as he whispered words in demon tongue. Kagura responded by moving her head, so he could easily mark her. She made a concentrated effort not to return the mark. She waited for him to remove his fangs before she began to chant. Returning his mark, the final ceremony had officially begun.

Each lapped the others wounds as the pain from the last six years flooded them. Each lap was a nail in a coffin where their past would be buried. Kagura sighed as he pushed away the straps of her camisole top to worship her neck and shoulders. Her hands roamed over his body. "I know where I want to place my mark; you?" he asked.

Kagura thought for a moment. She wanted to place it on a part of his body that would show she trusted him. She wanted a place that wasn't obviously visible, but at the same time, held a special significance to her. "Yes." She answered as she caressed her original mark. It would be his proof always that even when she swore to hate him, she secretively still loved him.

"I, Sesshomaru Takahashi, take you as my woman." He growled the words, but the meaning was clear. He removed her camisole top before kissing each of her bare breasts. He kneaded the soft mounds as he continued. "From now, until the end of time…" He moved down her body, slowly removing the rest of her cloths, tenderly caressing the area between her thighs. He drank her moans as if they were sweet vinegar, knowing, it wasn't time yet. She screamed his name as he gave her release. Turning her around, he found that perfect spot on her back, and began to carve his name with his claw. Finishing the vow, "May our souls bind us in this world and the next."

Kagura trembled in pleasure as her whole body went from burning hot, to freezing cold in the matter of seconds. His mark had sealed itself on her back, she could feel the weight of their love upon it, and it felt good. He helped her rise, kissing her lips lightly as she began to chant, "I, Kagura Kaze, take you as my man." Her lips were soft and careful as she traced each line of his chest. "From now, until the end of time…" He helped her remove his pants before earning a small smile from his mate-to-be. She brushed her fingers teasingly against his manhood before using a technique he had shown her many years ago. He growled appreciatively, happy she remembered it. Her hands had always felt perfect against his skin. With their intertwined scents, it wasn't long before he found his release. She used her claw to place her mark over her old one, knowing he liked her choice. "May our souls bind us in this world and the next." The marks began to glow as they both screamed in pleasure. She wasn't sure how it happened, but when Kagura opened her eyes, her mate was above her, making love to her body and soul. They rode their waves of passion together as they found their perfect unison.

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I wasn't going to going to write so much, but guess what, today, July 8, 2004, is my 22nd birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, I got a job!!!!!!!!!!! I start Monday, so updates maybe reduced to once a week from now on.

G2G get some sleep.