InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Art of Tea - ON HOLD ❯ The Art of Tea - Chapter 6 - Cha-no-Yu ( Chapter 6 )

 

DISCLAIMER - The ownership and general brilliance that is the original Feudal Fairy Tale remains the property of its honored and rightfully revered creator Rumiko Takahashi without whose brilliance, we would not have fodder.

 

 

By: ElegantPaws

 

Edited by:Meara the Celt

 

Chapter Six is dedicated to Demonlord_Lover, and if you have no idea whom that happens to be in the Inuyasha Fanfiction universe…my dear, you have been living under a rock far too long; shift it. Her works are plentiful and exceptional and her most favoured piece was her last completed to date, “Hallowed Desire”. Have a read sometime, you will not be disappointed. If you like dark fic…run to read Creed of the Other Breed. Simply put, the woman is gifted. Nothing else need be said.

 

Reviews are fuel.

 

Chapter Six - Cha-no-Yu

 

“When tea is made with water drawn from the depths of the Mind, whose bottom is beyond measure, we really have what is called cha-no-yu (i.e. the tea ceremony).”

 

-- Toyotomi Hideyoshi - Zen and Japanese Culture.

 

~~~~TAoT~~~~

 

Billowing clouds of steam came from the showers depths as she sat self-consciously on the commode. He was turning the damn bathroom into a sauna at the rate he was going. Swiveling, she moved toward the small window that looked down onto the garden below.

 

“Do not open it. This Sesshoumaru likes the steam.”

 

Kagome sighed. There he went again, acting like a Feudal Lord. She had been sitting quietly on the damn toilet trying to look inconspicuous waiting for what she did not know. It was not her habit to frequent men in bathrooms while they showered and there she sat, dutifully awaiting his pleasure out of pure guilt.

 

“Did you miss the part where I have been sitting here awaiting your every whim, getting progressively damper by the moment, or doesn't that matter, Mister Taishou?” Kagome said flatly, crossing her legs, prepared for his inevitable backhanded retort.

 

“The current state of your loins is of no concern to me, woman. Try to keep yourself in check. I have no wish to copulate with you at this time. Simply wait. I have need of you.”

 

Two thoughts crossed Kagome's mind simultaneously. One involved homicide, since it really couldn't be considered involuntary manslaughter as she had been giving it a good deal of consideration for the last minute or so, and the other…was, well, a little more personal and somewhat accurate. Damn him!

 

Fit to be tied, Kagome wrenched back the shower curtain, yanking three loops loose and glared up at the exquisitely chiseled features of…of…she blinked. For just a moment there…he looked...frightened, actually frightened…and then there was that…it might have been a trick of the light or the steam, but…

 

“Yeeeeeeeeesssss?” Sesshoumaru asked, scanning her confused expression with trepidation before continuing, having regained his composure. “Has no one taught you patience is a virtue, Kagome?”

 

It took a moment for Kagome to realize his lips had moved. Her little brows furrowed as he leaned his head closer with a lewd smirk. “Like what you see, Ka-go-me?”

 

She felt his breath ghost over her face, causing goose bumps to rise on her neck and in equal measure…

 

“You… overbearing, self-important…GET OUT! Get out now!” Kagome hissed with hands akimbo. She had had quite enough of his lip for one day; no, make that eternity. Why in hell was she putting up with him?

 

As though it were the most natural thing in the world, Sesshoumaru obliged, dripping on the bath mat arms folded across his chest.

 

Kagome backed up instantly as a tiny squeak came from her throat. She had not meant…immediately.

 

“I-I meant…not now…but… but…as soon as…well. I'll leave you to it then,” she stuttered, looking every which way and flailing her arms about as she backed up further, trying to make good her escape while he closed the taps.

 

He had tattoos! Keep your eyes up! Up! Damn it, Kagome. Eyes up. Don't give him the satisfaction of thinking you like what you see...even if you do.

 

Oh Dear Kami! It was true what they said about men's feet.

 

A very personal part of her anatomy clenched involuntarily. It had never done that before.

 

She quickly turned her back, cheeks a rich crimson. “I'll just leave, and let you get on with things,” she repeated, thoroughly mortified as she struggled for air. “Cover yourself please.”

 

“You will brush my hair and check for residual damage. Then you may leave,” was the matter-of-fact request that somehow came out sounding much more like a stipulation than not.

 

Kagome heard the bathroom door click closed and stiffened, whirling on her heels, prepared for round two. “How mighty white of …” she let her eyes drift a little southerly and felt her tensions ease.

 

There hung the bath towel at a rakish angle on his hips, emphasizing his lean, well-muscled torso and the most beguiling tattoos to match those on his arms and those dipping toward his clavicles.

 

The fingers of her right hand curled, resisting the urge to touch. They were beautiful. They looked almost natural in this light, but that was impossible. Birthmarks were not that well defined or regular. His damp skin positively glowed alabaster in the wisps of steam remaining in the room.

 

God it was hot in here.

 

“Nice ink…” she said, tearing her eyes away from his hips, suddenly recognizing that a dark object was being held in front of her face and behind it a smirking male. It had never occurred to Kagome she was being observed and it was clear that he was enjoying her perusal by the tilt of his head.

 

“Shall we begin? I did come here for a reason, Higurashi.”

 

Kagome raised one delicate brow. “You know, you could just use the mirror.”

 

Moving closer on the pads of his feet, he leaned in, causing Kagome to move backwards against the vanity. There was nowhere else to go.

 

“This Sesshoumaru doesn't wish to, Miss Higurashi,” he practically whispered in her ear It caused a tremor to travel her entire form as she came face to face with pale amber eyes, which held knowing amusement. “Your scent is pleasing. What is it?”

 

“Ooh…ahhhh…well, just…I …ummm…don't remember. Can you back up a bit? How in Kami's name do you expect me to brush your hair from this angle?”

 

Placing both long, well-muscled arms on either side of her hips, he flipped the soggy length over his shoulder expertly, effectively wetting her shirt further. It clung to her. His eyes danced over her breasts, pleased with the effect.

 

How had she ever thought him cold? The man oozed sensuality; definitely dangerous.

Kagome licked her lips.

 

“Oi, that's rude! You did that purposely!” she said, wiping her eyes, glad of the distraction. Maybe now he would give her some breathing room.

 

He didn't.

 

“Wrap your little hands around it… gently…” he said smoothly, leaning forward to sniff her neck again.

 

Kagome's eyes bugged.

 

“I beg your pardon? If you think, I'm going to…Oooh, you mean your hair? Sorry, I'm…never mind,” Kagome stuttered.

 

Gilded slits twinkled back at her, aware of what she initially `thought' was his meaning.

 

She hadn't been wrong.

 

Sesshoumaru, being Machiavellian by nature, had chosen his words, very, very carefully. She was aroused but trying to put a damper on it, channeling her sexual energies into anger instead; interesting move.

 

Her subtle musk appealed. Perhaps the game had gone too far. Soon he would not be able to control his own body's reactions to her nearness.

 

She glared at him with intense malevolence before yanking the silken length forward into the sink, while turning abruptly to avoid his feral gaze.

 

Sesshoumaru lurched at the unexpected tug and Kagome smirked with satisfaction.

 

Serves him right, hope he gets whiplash, Kagome thought, trying not to register the warmth of the male body behind her, or the slick feel of her body's response. There was less than a centimeter of space between them.

 

Drawing her fingers through the wet, cool mass, her expression softened. It really did feel like silk passing through her fingers.

 

She sighed, marveling at the unusual color … “Beautiful…”

 

Too late she realized she had said it aloud.

 

Oh Kami…she could tell he was on the verge of preening.

 

~~~~TAoT~~~~

 

Sango's ear was cocked as she rapped her fingers on the kitchen table and kept looking toward the door.

 

“How long exactly does it take to shower anyway?” she said under her breath, oblivious to the happy giggles coming from a well-dressed little girl, who eerily looked like Kagome when she was eight or nine.

 

“Pardon?” queried Miroku, who had been watching the cyclist with an amused smile that never met his eyes.

 

The high school coach turned her head to level him with a glare. She had not appreciated in the least being escorted back down the stairs and ushered into the kitchen with more force than was strictly necessary.

 

Miroku shrugged. At the moment, he was part of an assembly line that consisted of himself, Rin and Mrs. Lee making a cold concoction called `Bubble Tea.'

 

His job was to scoop the chilled Chinese tapioca into large, clear glasses while Rin, under Mrs. Lee's watchful supervision, mixed crushed ice, black tea, liberally laced with Lichee syrup and a bit of honey into lactose-reduced milk. It was sweeter and far more digestible, Mrs. Lee had said, patting Rin's head.

 

Sango scooted her chair back.

 

“I'm gonna see what's keeping them,” she said to no one in particular, and was about to push the swinging door.

 

“No you're not. You will wait here.”

 

Rin looked up at Mister Houshi. She had never heard such a sharp tone from him before. Her gaze followed his to the back of the woman's head, which was leaning on the door.

 

“Look…mind your own …” Sango tried to keep her voice level. There was a child present.

 

“Why don't you?” was the silky response.

 

The coach pushed the swinging door and stormed out heading towards the outer hall that lead to the family's quarters. She was doing this for Kagome's own good. No other reason. For all she knew, he might have done something to her. Yes, she was doing this for her own good. Not because she was jealous or anything. Not because she was afraid of change.

 

Her pace slowed. The darkened two-way glass that allowed the owner to see what was going on in the shop without having to enter caught her attention, or more accurately, the man that had entered the shop.

 

“You know him?” asked a male voice from behind, with a marked edge to the question.

 

He had followed her. There was no other explanation. What the hell was Naraku doing here?

~~~~TAoT~~~~

 

 

“Hmmm? You know, Mister Taishou, I think I would enjoy that actually. Yes, I will take your daughter on as pupil,” Kagome said, giving a final brush through his long, luxurious mane, still amazed at the beauty and texture of the drying hair.

 

“Okay, all done,” she tapped him gently on one broad shoulder with the back of the horsehair brush. She would have to remove those silver strands before she used it next. It pleased her secretly.

 

“I am not her sire. She is my ward, my responsibility. Nothing more, nothing less. You will augment the current weekly fee accordingly.”

 

Kagome chuckled at his antiquated use of the term. “Her sire? Why don't we speak of her provenance while we are at it? Have you checked her teeth lately? Surely you know her pedigree?” she said sarcastically, folding her arms across her chest.

 

Sesshoumaru turned on his throne, the commode, and glared. He was good at glaring, she thought, but somehow, here in the bathroom, with hardly a stitch on, it had lost some of its potency.

 

“She is a little girl, and a lovely one at that. Rin has spectacular manners and a wonderful caring disposition, but for her tendency, like you, to speak of herself in the third person. What's with that, anyway?”

 

Soft, honey-brown eyes looked amusedly into frigid amber, undeterred by the glower.

 

“This Sess…I will dress. Make yourself scarce, woman, ” he barked, rising to his full imposing height and releasing the bath towel from about his waist.

 

Though exceedingly embarrassed by the wanton display of his manhood, Kagome did not move. He had done this with the express purpose of getting her to scream and run like a twelve-year-old. Steeling herself, she slowly began at his head and allowed her eyes to work their way, down his form, inch by delectable inch.

 

After all, when next would she ever have this opportunity in life to look at so perfect a male specimen, even if her heart was caught in her throat? It was becoming hard to breathe.

 

Game over.

 

It had backfired. She dashed from the room and slammed the door behind her, clutching her chest as she ran for the relative safety of her bedroom.

 

Sesshoumaru smirked and gingerly began to dress. She had almost won that round. It had taken an inordinate amount of will to prevent the obvious as he tucked himself carefully into the now, moderately tight fit of the inseam.

 

He would take a walk in the small garden and think of restful things. Gone were the days when he could take his frustrations out on the odd ningen that had wandered onto his lands.

 

Sesshoumaru was hit with sudden melancholia.

 

Yes, the odd maiming of a lesser youkai and or torturing of his father's bastard usually did wonders for curbing his baser desires. What he needed now was a light bit of evisceration before tea.

 

He so missed Inuyasha. The mutt did have his uses.

 

 

Author's Note

 

...see you all soon, as always, looking forward to your commentary.

 

EP