InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter TwentyThree ( Chapter 23 )

Chapter TwentyThree

 

 

Kagome's eyes opened slowly, unsure of where she was. She was very warm and something heavy was on top of her, holding her down. She realized with a start that it was Inuyasha, somehow they'd moved from the floor to the bed and he was lying with an arm and a leg spread across her, his hair covering her face. She blinked for a moment, letting the memories of last night wash over her and reached up to brush the silky strands away from her eyes so she could see him.

 

Sleeping, he looked so unguarded and almost angelic, which brought a slight smile to her face when she realized what he'd have to say if she ever described him in such a way. She wanted to reach out and touch his face, brush his hair back from his eyes, but she didn't want to wake him when he looked so relaxed and comfortable.

 

Unfortunately, she was getting less comfortable by the moment, a pressure building just below her navel that meant she needed to get out of this bed and find the bathroom. She tried wiggling out from under him first; not wanting to jostle or disturb him but to her surprise the hanyou growled softly in his sleep and clutched her tight against him. She blushed, feeling his skin next to hers, and realized that she had about as much chance of struggling out of his hold as she did sprouting wings and flying back to Tokyo.

 

However, she had to do something before she embarrassed them both and the need to relieve herself was becoming urgent. Kagome nudged him, using her hands to pry at his arms.

 

"Inuyasha?" she called softly, hoping he wasn't so deeply asleep that he wouldn't hear her.

 

She needn't have worried, watching one of his ears twitch at the sound of her voice. He yawned, stretching slightly, still holding her possessively as he woke. His golden eyes opened to fasten on hers, a slightly goofy smile on his face when he realized they were still together in bed.

 

"Hello," he said softly, nuzzling her face.

 

"Hello yourself," she grinned. His expression was all lazy pleasure as he snuggled against her. Kagome was happy for that, she'd been worried that he'd tell her they made a mistake and she didn't know how she'd be able to deal with that. What she hadn't been expecting was her own uneasiness as his hands started to caress her lightly.

 

It was stupid, they'd already been together, but now she felt embarrassed by her nakedness and swallowed nervously as Inuyasha got closer, rumbling in her ear as he started to lick and kiss her affectionately around her throat. She could feel his arousal growing against her side as he grew more intent in his attentions, more aggressive as he pulled her closer and rolled on top of her.

 

Kagome's heart was pounding in her chest as Inuyasha started to kiss her, cupping his hands on either side of her face, slipping his tongue between her lips insistently. Kagome opened her mouth obediently, her thoughts racing wildly in her mind. What was wrong with her, why did she suddenly want to run away and hide? This was Inuyasha, the person she loved, had loved forever now it seemed. Why was her body not responding, why did she feel so scared and embarrassed when he touched her?

 

Finally, she couldn't deal with her traitorous emotions and pulled her face away from him.

 

"Um, I gotta go," she mumbled.

 

She saw confusion in his eyes and thwarted desire. "Go," he asked, frowning at her. "Go where?"

 

Kagome blushed. "Go to the...I need to pee."

 

His ears pricked up with understanding. "Oh," he grinned, easing off her.

 

Kagome blushed, knowing he was watching her as she got out of the bed and fumbled for her clothes. She didn't dare turn back to look at him, knowing she'd lose what composure she had. After relieving herself, she started to pull on her clothes, cursing herself and wishing she knew why she felt so strange.

 

Is this how everybody feels after the first time, she wondered, trying to sort out her feelings about being a retired virgin. Does everyone feel this awkward, even with the person they love? It didn't seem fair, not by a long shot, but she sighed and washed her face, feeling a little better after splashing some cool water on her cheeks.

 

You're just being stupid, she scolded herself.

 

Inuyasha noticed Kagome's strange behavior and wondered about it. She seemed uneasy and embarrassed about something and he couldn't think what. He decided to get dressed himself, see if they could get past the awkwardness if they weren't under the pressure of being naked together. He deeply hoped it wasn't regret he was seeing in her eyes. Whatever else had happened, he didn't think there was any way he could pretend they hadn't been together.

 

No fucking way, that would be a huge mistake, to think they could take it back a step and pretend that they'd never done what they'd both been longing for. He licked his lips, he could still taste her, still smell her body all over him. No. He could not forget what had happened and he had every intention of making sure that she couldn't forget it either.

 

Kagome came out of the bathroom then and met his eyes with a tremulous smile. He could smell her nervousness, anxiety. Inuyasha was determined to make it go away and didn't say anything, just held out his hand to her, silently asking for her acceptance without pressure and Kagome breathed a sigh of relief and felt his warm hand close around her fingers and knew that on some level he understood.

 

oOo

 

Makiko was still fuming, even though the incident had taken place several hours earlier. She hadn't quite decided exactly what manner of death Jano deserved, but she was enjoying thinking about the possibilities. Damn him anyway, how dare he? What did that evil excuse for a demon want from her? First he'd nagged her for years about going to bed with him, sometimes seriously, most of the time in a teasing tone she'd found easy to disregard.

 

For the most part, she enjoyed putting him in his place. His cocky brand of confidence had chafed at her from the first time she'd met him. Of course, she reflected, she didn't know a single inuyoukai male who didn't have that attitude to some degree or another, but for some reason, it was worse with him. Jano got on her nerves.

 

It had been like that since she'd come to the fortress as a very young woman. Makiko and Aiko had been born in a small inuyoukai village just barely within Sesshomaru-sama's territory. When their parents had been slain in a raid by some marauding demons, Makiko had been the one to decide that they should leave their home.

 

Responsible for her young sister, Makiko felt that the security of the fortress would be the better place for two parentless females to make a life. She'd simply found the current head of staff for the fortress' household servants and asked for work for her and her young sister. They'd been assigned to the kitchen, under the watchful eye of the head chef, Masae.

 

Makiko quickly found herself Masae's favorite and learned everything she could about running the kitchen and more than she wanted to know about the complexities of fortress life. She also learned which lords to avoid at all costs, which had tastes that included young serving girls.

 

Also she learned who to respect and who to never listen to. Masae had the habit of talking constantly as she worked, Makiko often spending the day in silence, simply absorbing the woman's observations. She found herself agreeing with Masae's assessments more often than not, how this guard was a fool for sleeping on duty, how that member of the cleaning staff had a bad habit of cutting corners.

 

One person that Masae seemed to have no lack of respect for was Sesshomaru-sama and also the young lord's recently deceased father, Inutaisho. The head chef seemed to become a bit misty eyed whenever she spoke of the Daimyo, but her voice had nothing but pride for what his son had accomplished. The Daimyo's unexpected death had thrown the territories into violent conflict, a vicious state of inuyoukai civil war.

 

Makiko listened to Masae's rambling about those dark and frightening days, the sieges, the slaughters, and the brutalities that dog demons were capable of inflicting upon each other. Somehow, the Daimyo's son had been able to hold his territory together, drive off those who attacked him, build alliances where none had existed before.

 

It took five or six long years of bloodshed, but Sesshomaru-sama had proven himself against those who sought to tear him down and also proved that he was nothing less than Inutaisho's son. Those who forgot that detail would pay for their folly with their lives and the lives of their kin.

 

But the war had hardened the young lord, Masae regretted that. Hardened like the tempering of steel for the finest swords, but bitter like a poison on the tongue. Makiko learned to listen closely to what Masae told her, at first thinking that the older woman simply meant for her to be a willing set of ears for her remembrances.

 

Makiko still worked hard to gain the head chef's respect. Neither Masae nor the head of staff missed her dedication and drive. Masae was old, even by inuyoukai standards she was growing weak and no longer had love for her work. For some time she had sought her replacement and found it in a slip of a dark haired girl, a serious young wench, but honest and capable and possessing the kind of temperament that made others want to listen and follow her lead.

 

That had been about the first time she'd encountered Jano, or at least the first time that he'd noticed her. She knew him as the current lord's bodyguard, one of a pair, other being a fiery half-kitsune female by the name of Namichi. He had a reputation for being very good at his work and an equal reputation for having an eye for lovely females.

 

That, of course, mattered nothing to Makiko. She was hardly interested in attracting attention from males.

 

Unlike the spoiled nobles who lived within these walls as members of the court, she had work to do. She was astounded and humbled that Masae had chosen her, an orphaned young youkai of no particular bloodline, to take over the daunting task of running the household's kitchen.

 

Masae brushed aside her concerns with a wave of her hand. "I like you, girl," she said, holding the younger female's chin in her hand. "You know how to get things done."

 

Getting things done around the fortress was a full time job and Makiko was delighted to apply herself to her work with vigor. She was determined that her kitchen would be every bit as efficient and clean as Masae's, not wanting to embarrass her mentor with not living up to her expectations.

 

It had been very late one night when Makiko was earnestly going over Masae's records. She sat alone at one of the great hearths, poring over complex recipes and wondering about her stock of spices. Should she tell the head of staff that more were needed, or work around with her own variations? As head chef, it was up to her discretion what was put on the fortress' tables, most of the guard and staff had plain tastes, but now and then a court noble or visiting clanlord would make some exotic request and Makiko had no intention of being caught unprepared.

 

She honestly didn't realize how late it was when she'd seen him come walking into her kitchen. The good-looking bodyguard flashed her a smile as he made for the night hearth where a simple yet savory stew was always kept simmering. Makiko immediately jumped to her feet to serve him, but Jano just waved her casually to her seat as he helped himself.

 

"Don't get up for me, girl," he said, grinning insolently at her. "I can take care of myself."

 

She didn't sit back down, but she did bow politely. "Please, Jano-san. It's my job to serve you."

 

His dark eyes flicked over her. "Really? You don't look old enough to be left her by your lonesome. You should tell that new head chef that even serving girls deserve their off time."

 

Makiko flushed, realizing he didn't know she was the new head chef and didn't want to embarrass the lord's personal bodyguard by pointing out his error. "It's no trouble at all, sir."

 

That made him smile as he settled on the hearth ledge to eat. "All right," he said finally. "I wouldn't mind something to drink, if you have it. I just got back from a really long assignment and I was seriously thinking of eating my armor a couple times before I got in."

 

She smiled faintly at his humorous comment and quickly poured him a cup of rice wine. Jano accepted it, his hand lingering briefly on hers and making her blush. He was quite attractive, mischief dancing in his eyes as he looked at her.

 

"I don't think I've seen you here before," he drawled. "Are you new?

 

"No," she said, smiling shyly back at him. "I've been here for some time."

 

Jano chuckled, sipping at his drink. "I find that hard to believe, I thought I knew every beautiful girl in this fortress."

 

Her cheeks colored dramatically at his comment and Makiko ducked away. Jano shook his head at such shyness, enjoying the game of drawing her out. "They must have been keeping you hidden from me," he teased, reaching out to touch her arm with a light finger.

 

"Maybe you just weren't looking," she countered, her eyes lighting in pleasure.

 

He liked her, he already knew that much. The pretty girl had a spirit behind that shyness, not to mention a lovely figure. "I'm looking now," he said softly, catching her hand and pressing lightly on her fingers. "What is your name?"

 

"Makiko," she answered, wondering if he'd recognize the name as being that of Masae's replacement. She didn't know how much attention a lord's bodyguard would pay to the changes in the household staff or the going-ones of the kitchen. Surely it wouldn't be worth his attention, his time being occupied by his lord's serious orders. And Sesshomaru-sama was a very serious minded lord. She suddenly realized that she was flirting with him and remembered her position and her duties.

 

"It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Jano-san," she told him in a formal tone. "I must return to my duties now and bid you good evening."

 

"Hey," he said, catching her hand again. "Where are you rushing off to, little Makiko? We were just getting to know each other."

 

She gently tugged her hand free of his and bowed politely. "I must go, sir."

 

Jano jumped up and followed her. "Oh come on," he said playfully. "It's late; you must be off duty soon. Even your head chef will understand if you take a few minutes for yourself. Trust me, she'll never know."

 

She turned and fixed him with a serious stare. "I will know."

 

Makiko was surprised when Jano suddenly reached out and caught her elbows, pulling her right up against him. He nuzzled her hair, enjoying the fresh scent of the girl.

 

"You're very pretty, little Makiko," he whispered in her ear. "If you're too busy for me now, can I see you later?"

 

She swallowed hard, her palms against his chest. Makiko blushed; his hands were starting to explore her curves, lightly tracing her hips with his fingers. "Please, Jano-san, this is not appropriate."

 

He gave her a dazzling smile, bringing a hand up to tilt her head back. "How about just a kiss goodnight then? Surely that wouldn't be too inappropriate for you, sweetness?"

 

The girl bristled suddenly at his condescending tone, as if she couldn't say no to him, as if she wouldn't dream of it. Makiko didn't have any intentions of becoming someone's plaything. She had a position and a home for her sister to protect and she wasn't going to compromise it. "Let me go!"

 

He laughed. "Certainly, the price is one kiss."

 

Makiko twisted suddenly, angry now, and slapped him hard. "Damn you!"

 

He caught her by the wrists, having fun now, having hardly felt the slap. She was feisty and spirited, that was something he couldn't resist. He had no intention of hurting the girl, not being the kind of demon who would force a woman, but she was such a temptation. Anger had brought her scent to an intoxicating sweetness, her sparkle in her eyes irresistible.

 

"You're gorgeous when you're mad, Makiko. Didn't anyone ever tell you that? Come on, you might just enjoy a kiss from me."

 

The conceited pig, she thought furiously, twisting her wrists to try and break his hold. He held her lightly, not hurting her a bit, but not letting go either. Makiko snarled, showing her fangs.

 

"If you try to kiss me I'll tear your tongue out of your mouth!"

 

"I'm willing to risk it," he said dryly, moving in for a taste of the deliciously angry woman.

 

"Jano, haven't you got anything better to do?"

 

He glanced over, grinning at Namichi as she gave him a disapproving scowl. His partner looked annoyed, but she knew him well enough to understand the girl was in no danger.

 

"I can't think of anything better to do," he replied lightly.

 

Namichi snorted, stalking over to him. "I think you should let her go, the head of staff will be most unhappy to hear that you're harassing the new head chef. I'm sure she'll complain to Sessh about it."

 

"She's the new head chef?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Well, that was interesting; he surely thought he would have heard about it if the new ruler of the kitchen were a female this delicious.

 

Makiko scowled, fed up with the whole situation, especially now that there was a witness. She jumped against him and brought her knee up to deliver a stinging blow to his midsection. That wasn't where she'd been aiming but it had the desired effect. Jano's hold loosened suddenly with a quick gasp of pain, she twisted her hands free and hit him as hard as she could right in the mouth.

 

"Bastard!"

 

Namichi bent over double, tears of laughter sparkling in her copper eyes. "That was beautiful, Makiko!"

 

Jano glared at her, wiping a bit of blood off his lip as Makiko stalked away. "Aren't you supposed to be my partner, Namichi? You're supposed to be on my side!"

 

She giggled, going from imposing bodyguard clad in black armor to a mischievous girl in the blink of an eye. "Not when you deserve what you get!" Her grin widened considerably. "How does it feel to meet a woman you can't charm, idiot?"

 

Jano ignored her taunts to bow lightly to Makiko. "Another time, sweetness. I've got to go put some ice on my pride."

 

"She didn't hit you there!" Namichi called out happily, still chuckling to herself.

 

Makiko stared at her, remembering her place in the household. "Will he report me, Namichi-san?"

 

Namichi snickered. "I doubt it. Jano won't want everyone in the household to find out what an ass he just made of himself."

 

Makiko found herself smiling, liking Jano's partner more and more by the minute. Namichi had a reputation for having a full blood inuyoukai temper, as well as a dog demon's tenacity in battle, but Makiko found it hard to believe at the moment.

 

The diminutive woman had dancing copper eyes and freckles, her hair just the color of her eyes hung down her back in a long braid, coming out of its restrictions by curling defiantly around her cheeks and forehead. She knew Namichi to be half kitsune, but no one would have ever dared call her adorable to her face.

 

“Thank you for assistance, Namichi-san,” Makiko said.

 

“Call me Nami, everybody does,” the woman answered with an airy wave of her hand. “And you don't have to thank me, that look on Jano's face will be thanks enough. I think it's good for him to learn how to take rejection, builds character and he thinks he's too sly as it is.”

 

Remembering that, Makiko had to smile. She still missed Namichi; the woman had become a fast friend from that day to the time of her death. Sly huh? Makiko's grin became a touch bloodthirsty.

 

“Jano,” she murmured, going back to her duties with a satisfied expression. “In Namichi's name, I think you are in need of more character building moments.”

 

oOo

 

Sango stirred, a delicious sensation washing over her. She came awake slowly as light kisses were being carefully placed on her shoulders, moving down her backbone in a soft trail of affection.

 

Awake already, is he, she thought, stretching sensuously.

 

One facet of youkai nature that she hadn't been educated in was how absolutely insatiable they were when it came to lovemaking. Sesshomaru was an amazingly gentle lover, deft and considerate, playing her nerves like a fine instrument; coaxing levels of response and passion from her body she never could have dreamed were possible.

 

Sango suppressed a sense of amusement as his fingertips wandered over her thigh. Exhausting as being loved like this could be, she found herself ready for him as ever, delighting in that light touch, the smooth firm muscles of his body pressing against hers.

 

She caught her breath as he continued to worship her back, feeling the tip of his tongue tracing her scar over and over. The sensitive skin tickled under his attention. She normally didn't like having her mind called to the scar's existence, and she preferred to forget about the wound her younger brother had dealt her. Sesshomaru had a fascination with it though, probably because youkai didn't scar themselves.

 

As he continued to lap at the old injury, she intertwined his fingers with hers. “Why do you do that?” she whispered.

 

His voice was equally soft and serious. “If I could take away every bit of pain you've felt, I would do so. I want to make this mark a source of pleasurable memories for you, instead of only a reminder of pain and death.”

 

“You don't find it...ugly?” she asked hesitantly. The scar wasn't pretty; that much she knew from what Kagome had told her.

 

“Nothing about you could be ugly,” Sesshomaru said in a soft, passionate voice. “Even this is a mark of beauty, for you survived what should have killed you. It's a memento of what you've suffered, endured, and conquered. It is precious to me, for if you didn't have the scar, you would have died of the wound instead and fate would not have brought to you to me. For that, I cherish it.”

 

Sango bit back a sob, suddenly flooded with adoration for him. Who would have ever thought Sesshomaru to be capable of saying such things? Who would have dared believe he'd ever want to? She lifted her chin to face him as he leaned over her shoulder, still positioned behind her, their bodies cupped together, every curve fitting as if her form had been made exclusively for his. He lowered his mouth to hers for a kiss, his hair falling silkily over her bare shoulder and his hand caressing her hip as he found her, sliding effortlessly into her, her body as always a welcome refuge that accepted him.

 

She cried out, clutching at his hand as he started to move, the slow, gentle strokes every bit as maddening as ever, the unhurried, deliberate way he enjoyed her body. Sango pushed back at him, urging him to a faster rhythm with her need. He complied, resting his forehead against her shoulder as he acquiesced to her demands.

 

Under his hand, he could feel the rush of her blood against his fingertips, the passion building in her lithe form, finally reaching a nerve-shattering quake of desire, Sango reaching for him wildly as she called out to him. Sesshomaru's arm held her tight, welding their bodies together, him gasping hotly in her ear, blinded by the flood of pleasure rushing in their bodies.

 

After a few moments of silence and recovery, Sango stirred to bring his hand to her cheek. Her pulse was still racing, but a wonderful lassitude had enveloped her in a warm cocoon. She kissed his palm, turning his hand over to look at it, pale against her warm honey skin. The fingers were long and delicate, beautiful and elegant as was everything about the youkai she loved. At the end of each finger was a sharp claw completing the graceful line of his hand. She had no reason to fear these claws, unlike those of the many demons she'd encountered and fought. She slipped the tip of his finger in her mouth, gently suckling at it.

 

His body started to shake in silent laughter and Sango twisted to look over her shoulder at his face. “What's so funny?”

 

He was grinning, looking more boyish than she'd ever seen him, an amused and unguarded expression that he'd never show the world, only her. “Aren't you ever satisfied, woman?”

 

Sango blushed for a moment and met his gaze. “You're one to talk, you woke me out of a deep sleep.”

 

Sesshomaru yawned, moving his hand to play with her hair now that she'd released his finger. “I did not hear you protest.”

 

She rolled on her back, staying safely under his arm as he held her gently. Again her attention was drawn to his hand, pulling it out of her dark hair to hold it up for close examination.

 

“I've always wanted to ask you,” she murmured, her fingers caressing his wrist. “How do you do that energy whip I've seen you use?”

 

“I have unusually good control of my youki,” he answered, watching her eyes. “Most youkai have some kind of energy they can use for self defense or battle. As a daiyoukai, not only is mine stronger than usual, I have a better sense of control and can use it as I will.”

 

Sango thought about it, turning his words over in her mind. She'd seen Inuyasha use his youki, mainly as an extension of his natural claws in strikes and blows during a fight. It made sense that Sesshomaru could do the same thing, only his was with a finer control instead of using the energy solely to strike with his claws.

 

“Was it difficult to learn how to control?”

 

As a demon exterminator, he imagined she was professionally interested in such thing. “It took years of my father's not so patient teaching, but eventually it did come to me all at once, as he'd predicted. I can use my energy how I please, either dispersed in a corrosive mist or as weapon like the whip you've already seen.”

 

She reached out and traced his lip with her finger, admiring as always the perfection of the way his features were put together. “It seems a shame that it is only used for battle, can you do anything else with such a fine control?”

 

Sesshomaru frowned slight, sitting up in bed and gently urging her to do the same. What he was about to do he had not attempted in years. There had been no reason and quite honestly, he wasn't sure he'd even be successful. Sango had a point about youki only being used for destructive purposes. His father would have agreed with her about it being a shame to do so, which was why he'd drilled his son in other ways to demonstrate his skill.

 

Concentrating, he extended his hand to the nearest stone wall, his fingers tracing the design in the air even as he released a burst of brilliant green fire.

 

Sango jumped without meaning to, seeing the energy flare brightly from his fingertips and sizzle as it struck the wall. When the air cleared a bit, she could see a design traced lightly into the stone, etched as if by a craftsman.

 

“Sesshomaru,” she breathed. “It's beautiful.”

 

“It's a lotus blossom,” he said matter of factly, pleased that his skills had not deteriorated. A wry smile crossed his lips as he regarded his mate. “My father taught it to me, you should know by now that even demons appreciate things of loveliness.”