InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Art of Tea - ON HOLD ❯ The Art of Tea - Chapter 11A - Tea For Two ( Chapter 11 )

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.

 

Reviews are fuel.

 

Namaste

 

By: ElegantPaws

 

Edited by: Meara the Celt

 

Chapter Eleven is dedicated to Sidhe, plain and simple. Cause girl, you rock! A Single Kiss remains one of my all time favourites. It always brings a smile to my face. Thank you for writing it.

 

 

" ~ Great love affairs start with Champagne and end with tisane. ~ "

 

--- Honoré de Balzac"---

 

~~~~TAoT~~~~

 

Chapter 11A - Fragonard with a soupcon of Bergamot

 

Again it came on the wind, the elusive scent of cologne. It was subtle but distinctively masculine.

 

Kagome paused in her steps and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply, a faint smile on her face as her heart began to race. Always lead by her nose, she was determined to find the source of the mouth watering scent. The top note had citrus, but it was too faint to tell the variety.

 

The intrusive voice of the Maitre D' interrupted the wandering of her professional nose.

 

“Miss Higurashi, your dinner partner wishes me to see you to the private terrace. The stars are out and the moon is making a particularly spectacular showing tonight. He believes you will enjoy the water features in the garden. Follow me, please.”

 

Large honey-brown eyes opened and looked at her host with mild annoyance. She had been so close. It wasn't him. He smelt of soap and water and a pomade of unknown origins. Not for the first time, Kagome wondered who exactly balding men were fooling with their comb-overs? He did have a kind fatherly face, though, and an infectious grin.

 

She smiled and followed dutifully through the cavernous portico, down the long hallway whose walls were frescoed with scenes from Roman mythology and stout women on the half shell.

 

Kagome chuckled. How times have changed in the aesthetics of perceived beauty over the centuries in differing parts of the world. It had been one of the subjects of her last paper that had garnered much controversy and healthy discourse between herself and Naraku.

 

“Mandarin. It's Mandarin peel.”

 

Empathetic brown eyes looked at her in query.

 

Kagome cleared her throat. The man would think her insane soon, what with the sudden stop she had made earlier as she followed him and now this. Perhaps she should not have indulged in those three glasses of champagne on an empty stomach while in the car. The strawberries must count for something other than vitamin C.

 

“Do you have a grove on this property? Oranges, perhaps? I keep smelling citrus of some kind,” she offered apologetically. They had finally reached the entrance to the garden.

 

He shook his head slowly and offered his hand to help her down the two uneven steps that lead to the terrace. She could hear the gurgling of water as it trickled from the small fountain, or more specifically, from the cherubim who was, and always would be, relieving himself with an impish smile.

 

The dark-haired woman giggled as she descended the few remaining stairs with a strong arm under hers.

 

Obviously she is drunk. Tut tut, the young of today, he sighed with a disapproving paternal expression and took her shawl and purse. And such a nice girl too.

 

Kagome's thoughts soon turned from the statue. Her breath caught. What lay before her was a feast for the eyes in shades of alabaster, gold and midnight blue.

 

The setting was breathtaking, the white marble terrace and metal work set off by the midnight blue of the clear night sky. The moon was at its apex, casting a silvery beam atop the watery labyrinth below that seemingly went on for eternity.

 

“Oh Naraku, this is exquisite,” she murmured, as her shawl was eased from her shoulders and her purse was gently taken from her hand. Kagome had every intention of telling him how pleased she was with his choice for the evening when he arrived.

 

Sesshoumaru growled in irritation. He planned this setting, not the fetid beast. He would put her straight on approach. For now, he would enjoy simply watching from afar. She was a thing of beauty and he would possess her.

 

On silent feet, the Maitre'D retreated, bowing to the tall, lithe figure standing in silhouette atop the stairs before handing him her items.

 

Enraptured by the vision he saw before him, Sesshoumaru paused, basking in the glow of exposed flesh and decidedly feminine curves enhanced by the moon's light. Molten gold followed the enticing sway of her hips as she sinuously moved toward the balustrade to get a better look at the garden below. Her aura was scintillating and its intensity showed her true being and heritage as yet unutilized.

 

The scent of her hair is reminiscent of apple blossoms, delectably enticing and clean; she was edible beauty in motion.

 

Sesshoumaru studied his prey speculatively. She was definitely ruled by her emotions. He would have to bear this in mind in his approach. The Taiyoukai wanted her on his own terms, but he would have to factor in her basic nature if their contract was to be mutually enjoyable.

 

Kagome felt suddenly pleasurably indolent and stretched languorously, like a cat well sated as the warm wind caressed her cheeks and neck. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply of the moist air which brought with it that now familiar, sensual scent.

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes hooded as he studied the erotic way her body moved. Instinctively he felt a tightening of his groin and abdominal muscles as she bent seductively over the balustrade, giving rise to an unhindered view of a well rounded backside and quite possibly the most spectacular length of leg he had seen in centuries, if ever.

 

Even in the way her fingers caught the wisps of hair escaping their twin captors. In that moment the Western Lord wanted nothing more than to bury his nose in that hair and feel her soft curves beneath him as she arched into the kiss. Her little moans of pleasure as he plundered her succulent mouth while they ground their hips together coming events casting long luscious shadows of ecstasies untold.

 

Becoming excruciatingly aware of the hardened, throbbing length within his trousers, Sesshoumaru groaned in frustration.

 

The damn woman moved with sensual grace.

 

How was he to get through this dinner when all he wanted was to find a private spot away from prying eyes throw her to the ground, spread those supple legs and fuck her senseless or comatose, whichever came first?

 

He glowered at the obvious unruly bulge in the front of his trousers.

 

“Definitely mandarin, and maybe even bergamot with a soupcon of lavender.” She sighed contentedly, mesmerized by the sound of the cicadas and the rhythmic flow of the waters below.

 

Unbidden flashes of memory overtook Kagome.

 

Thoughts of firm, velvety lips devouring leaving her breathless with desire as strong fingers carded through the silky obsidian of her hair. Her head gently forced back in the shared intimacy of tongues and teeth.

 

Kagome moaned as she recalled his cool citrine eyes hooded with passion and a question that remained unspoken as he closed them and plundered her mouth with renewed fervor. As much as she would have liked to place the entire embarrassing incident solely at his feet, she had been a willing participant. Both were lost inexorably in the intimate embrace of shared breath.

 

The inuyoukai quirked a brow and raised her shawl to his nose. She was naturally sensual. There was a pleasing hint of arousal in her scent. It bode well for the evening he had planned.

 

Sesshoumaru descended the stairs quietly, placing both purse and shawl on the stone bench. He could tell by the spike in her feminine scent she was still lost in thoughts of a carnal nature.

 

The woman does display a propensity for taste and has a modicum of intelligence, but for that ridiculous independent streak. I will curb that within a few ruts.

 

The inuyoukai lord smirked, quite pleased with his solution. No thanks to Miroku's ridiculous theories. Things were moving along nicely. It was a well-known fact that a sated female invariably came around to the male's way of thinking.

 

Kagome shuddered, opening her eyes in sudden realization; that afternoon was the first time she had felt truly alive and very much a woman.

 

Large, almond-shaped eyes looked up to the heavens at the moon, its color reminiscent of the cool silk that so recently passed through her fingers. She had finally placed the scent that had dogged her all evening.

 

He has eyes the color of sunlight on a winter's day, deceptively cold in appearance yet scorching when focused.

 

“Kagome snap out of it! You are going to have dinner with your colleague. Stop thinking about that overbearing…egotistical...delicious tasting…Neroli! That's it! Bergamot and Neroli,” she said spinning around with triumph. She had identified the other subtle ingredients of the cologne.

 

Amused citrine looked down at the little female with the large expressive eyes before taking her into his arms.

 

Her heart rate has increased and it is not fear; promising.

 

The pad of one large tapered finger touched her soft, moist lips speculatively, before the resonant baritone whispered in her ear, eliciting an involuntary shiver from the female as another digit made its way up her spine, heating her skin in its wake.

 

“Fragonard. The cologne is by Fragonard, Higurashi.”

 

Firm lips lowered to hers, muffling any retort as he pinned her body to the marble surface of the terrace enclosure.

 

She tastes of champagne and ripe strawberries.

 

He intended to have her this very night, if for no other reason than that discerning little nose and the firm delectable ass below his caressing palm.

 

Kagome's lashes fanned her cheeks as her eyes closed, a soft breathy moan of resignation escaping her lips. Small, elegant hands reached up to coil cool silver strands between her fingers.

 

The Maitre'D looked on with a beatific smile and a sigh as he remembered when his hair was plentiful and he too cut the dashing figure, sans girdle.

 

Ahhhh, young love.

 

He would come back later to give them the benefit of his expertise in selecting their meal. Such a handsome couple; the least he could do was take care of them personally.

 

With a slight frown on his face, he studied the regal young man's broad back paternally. He hoped the silver-haired male would take the petite beauty in hand, however, about drinking too heavily. He needed to nip that in the bud.

Remarkably light on his feet for a man of his years and general roundness, he ran smack into the assigned wait staff for the night.

 

“You are not needed here. Get back to the kitchen,” he said dismissively. The boy had done nothing but get underfoot for the last two hours with his constant checking of the reservations.

 

The waiter's pale amethyst eyes rolled as he spotted the couple. Just his luck. Where was Naraku anyway? It was his name on the reservation, not Sesshoumaru's.

 

A wicked glint entered the young man's eyes as he pondered a well-curved leg caressing the side of western lord's trouser leg. The female in question was being forced back against the balustrade, her long slender fingers fisted in silver hair.

 

“Who knew the Big Dog liked to suck face and with a human What-the-Fuck?”

 

“I'll say this. She's hot!” The young male snorted, before being propelled unceremoniously back the way he came by the fussy little host.

 

“Oi!” Inuyasha exclaimed indignantly.

 

“I'm goin' already, old man.”

 

Sesshoumaru's head rose abruptly as he spun around in shock, carrying the small female with his momentum into a nearby bush where she landed on her recently fondled assets.

 

“Inuyasha?” the resonant baritone uttered quietly with perplexed expression.

 

“What?!” Kagome bit out through gritted teeth. She found herself being lifted gently to her feet and dusted distractedly by a large hand.

 

“Get your paws off me.”

 

Sesshoumaru blinked suddenly aware he had been spoken to and looked down at his hands. What was she speaking of? He was still humanoid?

 

“How is it possible? I would have sensed his presence. He can not be here.”

 

Kagome stared up at the handsome male with a death glare that had little to no effect.

 

“Mister Taishou, what are you talking about? Whose presence? Why did you throw me in the bushes?”

 

No response. He just stood there like one of the marble statues.

 

She decided to try again, her ire and embarrassment rising. Once again he had caught her off guard.

 

“In fact, why in hell were you kissing me and what the hell are you doing here?! You weren't invited to dinner,” she said irritably, smoothing her skirt, which had ridden up.

 

The demon lord looked through her, his mind elsewhere.

 

Her gaze softened instantly.

 

Perhaps he isn't feeling well. He did look to be in shock.

 

Sesshoumaru felt a small hand on his forehead. Instinctively he recoiled. Looking down into worried, confused brown eyes, he finally registered her existence.

 

“Come, sit. You look like you have just seen a ghost,” she said gently, taking his large hand in hers and pulling him to sit on the bench that overlooked the garden.

 

Golden eyes narrowed imperiously as he withdrew his hand from hers abruptly.

“This Sesshoumaru is not in need of your succor, woman. Be still. I am endeavoring to think matters through.”

 

Kagome's right eye began to tick markedly.

 

“Oooohhh really and I suppose you were thinking matters through earlier when you accosted me with those?!” she pointed at his lips indignantly. “Not to mention your eager little friend there?” she blushed. If she had to be embarrassed at her own display, she wasn't going down alone.

 

She felt the heat of his gaze which only served to intensify her discomfort.

 

“You're staring. That's rude,” Kagome said testily, getting up to put some distance between them. Even though no longer touching, she could feel the heat of his body next to her and it was most disconcerting to her senses.

 

He followed.

 

The feel of warm breath against her neck caused Kagome's eyes to close.

 

“This Sesshoumaru has never accosted a female in his existence,” he whispered into her ear before capturing the little lobe between his teeth, gently nipping it.

 

Kagome gasped in surprise but did not move as clean strands of cool silk fanned her face, bringing the heady scent to her nostrils. Kagome bent her neck back against his chest, her hand clasped with his against her stomach.

 

`I'm going to hell anyway, why stop now?'

 

A long, dexterous tongue soothed the abused lobe, as tapered digits caressed the flat of her stomach in tandem with hers. “Nor did he sense a lack of interest in the proceedings on your part, Higurashi. I will have you tonight, woman,” he whispered silkily against her neck, pressing his hips forward into her rear to illustrate his point.

 

He felt her body stiffen, but thought little of it as he slowly turned her to face him. He would have Kagura bring the car around. They were going to skip dinner and go straight for dessert.

 

Sesshoumaru had anticipated those beautiful, expressive eyes to be glazed with lust. Instead, they were currently an impenetrably malevolent black as her pupils had dilated, eclipsing her irises.

 

His skin began to tingle in warning. The demon lord released his hold.

 

Kagome stood motionless and scrutinized him from head to toe with a malicious smile.

 

Sesshoumaru had to quell the urge to step back. There was something feral in that gaze.

 

“You don't get laid much do you, Mister Taishou?” Kagome asked in a deceptively sweet tone, before a silken knee made one with his package. The livid woman turned and retrieved her items and headed for the stairs in a businesslike fashion.

 

Even in the back of beyond there had to be taxis. She would apologize to Naraku tomorrow for leaving.

 

The western lord saw stars, not all of which were heavenly.

 

Author's Note

 

LMAO!...Hope you enjoyed. See you after the conclusion of TSNNAM with Chapter 11B…the evening is young and neither has yet to eat…on any level (wicked evil grin).

 

EP