InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Vying for Dominance ❯ House Guest ( Chapter 37 )

House Guest

 

 

Kagome had never been a very graceful person. In fact, if she were to put a label on what she was, she would be more inclined to say `Giant Klutz'. She tried hard, she really did; but somehow all her efforts were always turned sour when instead of her best intentions panning out for her they ended in the worst kind of disaster. The Shikon, for instance. She had only meant to take down the youkai that had stolen it to get it back, but instead, in a glorified light show of her cursed klutziness, the Jewel had been shattered and spread across the countryside.

 

And now, as she stood in the middle of her most recent misadventure into klutzville, she imagined herself to be akin to the poor bull that had been dragged into the china shop. The bull couldn't help its large, cumbersome nature, so the fault couldn't be his that the china had been broken. So then why was it, as she stared down in horror at the shattered mess of china plate lying at her feet, that Kagome couldn't shake the feeling that it was entirely her fault?

 

Now, to be fair, with full knowledge of her clumsy streak, Kagome would never have touched a piece of relicware so ridiculously expensive if she had been given a choice in the matter. But, as it happened, apparently Sesshomaru didn't know what `regular' dining material was. She had searched through every cupboard and hutch in the sizeable kitchen, and, after marveling at the size and beauty of the room and its contents and coming up with several ideas of what such a large space could be used for - ideas ranging from those of the fun party type to those of a much more devious nature - she had come to the realization that, in her time, the contents of this kitchen alone would fetch a price in the millions.

 

She had counted six full place settings of beautifully intricate Chinese porcelain. Everything from serving pitchers and platters to plates and bowls to even the smallest tea bowl were made from the highest quality ceramic. The poor miko had been at a loss, a loss only perpetuated by her stomach's protests that it needed to be fed. She had contemplated briefly simply eating out of the cooking pot she had used to steam her rice, but, with the notion that she wouldn't want to appear utterly barbaric with the dining etiquette of a mule, she had decided to go ahead and use one of the plates.

 

It was a decision she was regretting thoroughly as she stared down at the poor phoenix bird that had been decimated of its glory.

 

I should have just stuck with the beets. The pantry room had been stocked with any manner of canned and pickled fruits and vegetables, as well as dried meat and fish, spices, stocks, broths and sauces, and, if you had asked her, a rather unhealthy supply of sake. She could have just opened a jar of whatever and had at it, but oh no, she just had to have rice. And why not? There had been sacks of it, though she couldn't for the life of her figure out why Sesshomaru, of all people, would have enough food to feed a mortal army. She had actually been surprised that he had a fully functional kitchen in his home - because she was for damn sure he wasn't the one doing the cooking. Then again, given her less than stellar attempt, maybe he should have been.

 

Still staring dumfoundedly at her most recent disaster of epic proportions, Kagome was spurred into hasty action when she heard muffled voices drifting through the walls from the main entrance. Her curious nature actually had given her a one-up in this instance, and, thanks to her rather thorough snooping of the kitchen space, she knew exactly which panel concealed the assorted cleaning supplies and dish cloths. She had taken one of the towels earlier to tie on as an apron. The thing had been made better than most of her clothes, but she welcomed anything that could save what was left of her once beautiful gown.

 

This time, however, she grabbed one of the soft towels with less than pure motives. She threw it over the shattered plate, brushing the pieces together until she could bundle them up in the cloth. Once she had most of it, she closed the bundle and used its butt end in a haphazard sweep to scatter the rest of the fragments under the preparation table before moving quickly to deposit it in a wash bucket kept stored in the closet space.

 

Sliding the closet door closed, Kagome spun quickly, gave her make-shift apron a brush over, and straightened herself to walk out. Trying her best to look as though nothing was amiss, she walked forward and didn't look back.

 

VVVVVVVVVVV

 

“Jaken. You are to clean and polish those blades. I expect them completed and in their fixtures within the hour.”

 

“Of course, Lord Sesshomaru. Your command is my pleasure, Lord Sesshomaru.”

 

Hearing the little toad's pathetic groveling even from down the hall, Kagome couldn't help but roll her eyes. She would never understand Jaken. Sesshomaru treated him like dirt, possibly even worse than he treated dirt, and the bizarre little imp actually seemed to like it that way.

 

“The garment is to be cleaned and the material salvaged. Have it fitted to Rin's size within the fortnight.”

 

“Yes, Lord Sesshomaru.”

 

Rin…? Kagome's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of the little girl. It had been too long since she had last seen Sesshomaru's human ward. She probably would have grown so much! Hurrying now, her steps light with bouncing glee, Kagome made it to the end of the hall just in time to see the squat little toad demon clumsily juggling a load of two swords and the many tattered layers of what had once been her dress.

 

“And Jaken.”

 

The toad stopped abruptly at the sound of his master's voice, just barely managing to catch the layer of silk that slipped off the pile with one of his scaly green hands. “Yes Lord Sesshomaru?” he questioned meekly.

 

“No mistakes.”

 

It was an order stern and filled with promise of punishment, and Jaken gulped audibly. “N-no, Lord Sesshomaru. O-of course not. This Jaken will see to it.” And then, as it was his Lord's command, the little imp turned, purpose and pride filling his steps as he took to his tasks.

 

Kagome shook her head. What a strange, strange little creature. He had walked right past her; and with his mind so set on his duties, he hadn't even noticed her standing in the room. Then again, it was a very large room. So, with the little toad headed down the hallway to the left, Kagome made her way towards Sesshomaru.

 

His eyes shifted to meet with hers, but Kagome wasn't even given the chance to smile in greeting before he turned back to the door. For a moment, she was confused; but her confusion quickly passed when from the courtyard beyond a small person bounced merrily through the entrance doors.

 

“Rin.”

 

The moment Sesshomaru spoke her name, the little girl came to a skidding halt. “Yes Sesshomaru-sama?” she asked cheerfully. Her bright eyes and even brighter smile was not returned by her Lord, but the young one still smiled as though she couldn't have been happier.

 

“Have you tended Ah-Un to his stable?”

 

The question seemed to catch Rin off-guard. She chewed her bottom lip, her youthful features drawing tight as she thought about it. “But Sesshomaru-sama,” she replied tentatively, “Ah-Un does not like his stable.”

 

“Nevertheless, Rin. It is his place.”

 

A sighing breath leaving her, Rin nodded her head. “Yes, Sesshomaru-sama.”

 

“You will remember this the next time, will you not?”

 

Again she nodded, but not in resignation. She nodded with vigor, lifting once again brightened eyes to her beloved Lord. “Yes Sesshomaru-sama.” The girl smiled as she spoke the words, because he was her Lord, and she would follow him until the end of forever.

 

“Very well.” A short acknowledgement to his young ward, and Sesshomaru turned her attention to larger matters. “Rin. Perhaps you would see to my guest while I tend to this.”

 

“Guest?” Looking around curiously at the mention of a guest in her Sesshomaru-sama's home, Rin became ecstatic with glee to find herself looking at a friend. “Miss Kagome!” she creed excitedly, her little legs carrying her as fast as they were able across the entrance hall to meet with the young miko.

 

“Hey, Rin,” Kagome greeted in return, her smile nearly as bright as that of the child's. “Long time no see.”

 

Out of habit, Kagome dropped down to meet the girl with an embrace, but just before she might have touched her, Rin came to a curious stop. For an uncomfortable moment, Kagome waited; but a movement in the corner of her vision that signaled Sesshomaru's departure gave her all the understanding she needed. Rin was not her Shippo. Of course, she knew this. But what was more was that unlike her little kit, Rin had been so long in the care of one who would never, could never, give such supports openly.

 

Her smile growing soft as she shifted, Kagome offered the girl her hand instead. “Come on, Rin. I'm making dinner; and I'd hate to eat all alone.”

 

This time, Rin took the offered contact, settling her little hand into Kagome's. As she stood though, Kagome couldn't help but notice that there were no shoes on the girl's feet. She bit her lip to prevent herself from grimacing.

 

How on earth was she going to get dinner for the girl without letting her step foot in the kitchen?

 

VVVVVVVVVVVVV

 

“This stuff is awesome…”

 

Kagome's comment was muffled somewhat by the sticky rice in her mouth. It had been quite a culinary innovation that had managed to turn her dinner rice into sticky balls being that she had no intention of preparing it in such a way, but the result had been…well…edible at least. It hadn't taken much convincing to get Rin to lead her on a tour of the house as they ate their portable dinner - very effectively getting the girl away from the kitchen and the potential danger of fragmented clay chips cutting her feet.

 

She now stood in what she could only assume was a conference room of sorts. There was a long table that could seat several parties, and the walls were covered with maps ranging from regional territories to detailed recreations of the island to surprisingly accurate maps of the world given the current time-period. But what had caught her eye in this room was the incredible display of weaponry decorating the far wall. From daggers and blades, to spears and tridents, to sais and stars; and each touched by a separate kind of energy. Some were strong, clearly demon blades of power; while others were decorative, and still others lay broken in their mantles. Looking at this display was like looking at history. Each weapon here had been taken as a prize, something lost by the former wielder to the Western Lord.

 

“You do realize there is a rather large dining hall, do you not?”

 

Blinking in shock to hear Sesshomaru's question, it took Kagome a little extra effort to swallow down what remained of her rice. She forced a tight grin and looked over to where he had entered the room. “Yeah, but I already saw that room.” He lifted an eyebrow dubiously at the comment, but Kagome only snickered at the motion, biting her lip from telling him again how cute it was when he did that while in front of Rin. So, turning to the little girl to distract her mirth, she asked her, “So, Rin, what's next?”

 

Rin's cherub features scrunched as she thought about it. They had already seen the kitchen and dining room, the great hall was big, but not really interesting, and she wanted to save the best for last, so… “Oh!” her chocolate eyes widened with excitement. “I know! Rin will show you the library. That is where Jaken-sama gives Rin her lessons.” She reached up to take Kagome's hand and lead her towards their destination, her little grip strong with determination - if not slightly sticky from her own meal. “Sesshomaru-sama has a hundreds of books,” she explained eagerly as they went. “Kagome-chan will have never seen so many!”

 

“Oh, I don't know, Rin,” Kagome replied. “I've been in libraries bigger than even Sesshomaru-sama's home.”

 

Rin's steps came to an abrupt halt so that she could look up to Kagome. “Bigger than Home?” she asked in awe. Surely, such a thing was impossible.

 

Nodding slowly in assurance, Kagome added with flair, “And buildings taller than mountains!” Her hand reached up over the little girl's head, making her lift her eyes and imagine it. There was such wonder and awe glimmering in those wide, innocent eyes, and Kagome giggled sweetly. “Come on, Rin.” She gave a small tug on the girl's hand to snap her out of her daze. “Let's see this library.”

 

Once reminded of their destination, Rin was quick to comply. The library was adjacent to the conference room, all rooms in this section of the house connected by the long hallway as well as to each other by sliding panels. Rin led her by the shortest route, sliding the door panel back to reveal the large library.

 

As the girl has said, the walls were lined with shelves containing hundreds of books and scrolls and parchments. Unlike the other rooms, this one seemed more relaxed. A collection of large, over-stuffed pillows sat in the centre of the room while others were gathered in front of an elaborate fire mantle meant for relaxation. A short set of stairs led up to a platform where a workdesk held quills and ink and parchment. And just behind the desk, another doorway lead to yet another room.

 

Though the library was, in this time's standards, impressive; Kagome wasn't all that interested in the written histories. It would have taken years, if not decades or more, to learn all that was written in these bindings of paper; and it just didn't seem all that important to know. Besides, even without looking, she could have guessed what at least half of the material was.

 

Sesshomaru was a Lord. Youkai or not, a Lord was a Lord, with subjects and lands and the necessity of maintaining them - be it by good will or force. Supplies and stocks, census notes and collections, debts paid and repaid, migratory movements, military status, defenses; all the political, agricultural, fiscal, and military information required to rule a land would be found here. What histories or legends or literary works made up for the rest of the collection were insignificant in comparison.

 

So, though listening to Rin's exuberant recollection of her time here and the subjects he was being allowed to study, Kagome began her own exploration. She was drawn at once to the stairs leading up to the raised platform. There was a strong presence here, one concealed, but which burned against her senses in a most familiar way. Somewhere between the fireplace she had passed and the stairs ahead, there was a hidden chamber or passage.

 

Absently, she wondered what it was for, what treasures Sesshomaru would seek to hide when so many he displayed as badges of honor and reputation. The answer came back to her as a resounding, `none of your business', so, she shrugged off her curiosity and continued on her way.

 

She was just about to slide the door panel to the next room open…

 

“Oh no Kagome!” Rin had seen where Kagome's curiosity had taken her, and she quickly placed herself between the door and the young miko. She shook her head firmly in the negative, telling her with all the authority a little girl could muster, “You mustn't.”

 

“Eh?” Kagome stared down at the girl in confusion. It was just a door. What was the big deal? But Rin would not say anything more, and Kagome was left with her confusion until finally Sesshomaru joined them.

 

“It is alright, Rin.”

 

Even with her Lord's approval, Rin still seemed hesitant to clear the way. But eventually she did relent. After all, she would never disobey her Lord.

 

Still confused, Kagome stood back as Sesshomaru reached for the panel to reveal the next room. It took about as long as the door to slide open for her confusion to be taken over by a heated blush and a sinking feeling of embarrassment. Eyes wide and blood rushing in hot waves through her flushed cheeks, Kagome found herself staring dumbly into Sesshomaru's bedroom.

 

It was only completely obvious, of course, that, this being his house, he would have a room all his own within it; but, for even more obvious reasons, Kagome had conveniently forgotten that fact. It occurred to her, in an errant thought that she truly wished had never thought to partake its oh-so-infinite wisdom upon her, that there was a reason why Sesshomaru wanted her to know where this room was, and more, that by showing it to her and giving her permission to enter, he was implying more than just her welcome in his private chambers.

 

Such thoughts, she decided immediately, were beyond healthy. They made her feel light-headed and warm in all the wrong places, and made it nearly impossible to concentrate on even the simplest of tasks - like walking, something she was trying desperately to convince her legs to do so that they could carry her out of this room and all the innuendoes and not-so-hidden suggestions that went along with it.

 

Thank heavens for small miracles, then, and for small children. Apparently, Rin felt no more comfortable being in Sesshomaru's room than Kagome did - though, for completely different reasons, of course. The girl had made a direct path to the sliding door on the right wall without pausing a moment to look around, and Kagome followed her gratefully. She just knew that if she stayed in there that things were going to get…awkward. She needed to get out.

 

When the screen door slid open, revealing a brightly lit sitting room beyond, Kagome breathed in a glorious breath that tasted of freedom.

 

“Kagome.”

 

Her freedom was crushed as effectively as metal bars slamming down by only the sound of his voice. She froze, only one step away from the threshold, wishing she could have been given the free pass that Rin was fortunate enough to possess that allowed her to skip from the room unscathed. Oh, how she envied that girl at the moment.

 

It was foolish, ridiculous, absurd. She knew this. She really did. But she just couldn't help herself. Something about being here, in this place that was his and his alone, it just made everything that much more real. In the shadows of his den, concealed in the rocks of his mountain abode, even open to Mother Nature's gentle embrace, there remained a mysterious quality to every encounter, something dreamlike, almost surreal. But being here, in this Home he had built, in the room that he would one day share with his mate, the Lady of his House, the mother of his children …it was just too much.

 

She knew what he had asked of her, knew what he wanted from her. She knew. She had known ever since he had declared her his in front of all his kind. But she also knew that it was one thing to say the words, even mean them, but something completely different to accept all of what they mean.

 

It was so easy to forget everything when she was with him. Too easy. Far too easy. But she couldn't forget, not everything. Not what she would loose by staying, not what she would gain by saying yes, not the world she would leave behind, not the one where she would never be able to go back, not the people she loved, not the ones she wouldn't be able to see again - she couldn't forget these things.

 

And she also couldn't forget - though she had been trying really, really hard to - that in the room they currently occupied, alone, away from prying eyes, was a very large, very luxurious bed, all neat and made and draped in the softest looking silks and throws and pillows, just begging to be mussed and tossed and torn by two hot, sweaty, naked bodies as they rode it recklessly in the throws of passion.

 

Her throat suddenly very dry, Kagome swallowed thickly, managing only a weak, “Yes?” in response to Sesshomaru. Of course, it was more of a squeak than an actual response, but she was surprised she had managed to speak at all, so she wasn't going to knock it.

 

Slowly, and with much hesitation, she managed to turn around to face him, though couldn't quite bring herself to look him in the eye. Her scent was a big enough give-away for the damn dog to pick up on, she didn't need him misinterpreting the hazy lust that was clouding her eyes as anything more than what it was. As she turned, however, she gave that big bed of infinite naughty thoughts and even naughtier images a token scowl, because, of course, it was all the bed's fault.

 

“Are you nervous?”

 

There was far too much amusement in his tone, but Kagome was too riddled with other problems to react to it. Still looking anywhere but into his eyes, she shook her head. “No.” It wasn't a lie. Nervous didn't even come close to describing what she was feeling.

 

A startled gasp left her when she felt his fingers graze across her arm, her eyes snapping up to finally meet his. He was standing right in front of her. She hadn't even seen him move.

 

“You are trembling.”

 

After silently cursing him and all his astute observations, with an extra oath added for his smugness and the annoying little smirk that had worked its way onto his lips, Kagome rubbed her hands along her arms in yet another display of nervousness as she stammered out her answer. “It's…cold in here.”

 

“Hn.” She was a horribly bad liar. And Sesshomaru wasn't quite sure whether he was more amused by the fact that, even though she knew lying to him was a waste of breath, she had tried anyways, or that she was so completely and obviously anxious that she was practically jumping out of her skin to avoid being alone with him.

 

Though, perhaps, a touch of reluctance on her part wouldn't have been too unexpected considering why he had brought her here in the first place, her antics now only added to her charm. Truly, there was no reason for her to be nervous. There wasn't anything he could do to her that he hadn't done already…well, there were some things he could do to her that he hadn't done already - many, in all actuality - but that wasn't the point. What did she expect? That he would pick her up, toss her down on the bed, and ravish her…with Rin in the next room?

 

Curiously enough, that idea still had far more enticing aspects than he might have thought. Her heated blush, her trembling limbs, her wide, glassy stare filled with just as much fear and expectation as the first night they had come together, and her pure electric scent filling the space of a chamber that had for far too long carried only his own, made him think that it wasn't such a bad idea after all. The bed was far enough from the door that nothing could be seen without coming nearly all the way into the room, and anyone that came even remotely that close… Come to think of it, maybe he would be better off showing her the balcony…or even…the gardens.

 

No. Shaking his head slightly to rid his mind of the far too tantalizing images it was supplying him with, Sesshomaru brought his urges back under control. He would have her here, in this room, but not yet. Not until she had heard all he would say, not until she saw all of what he had brought her here to see. Soon, when they had had more time to talk, when she had had more time to think, when she was calm, relaxed, accepting. He could wait. For her, he could wait.

 

But while he was waiting, he wouldn't have her fearing him so.

 

“Come.” He took her hand in his, lifting it, and waiting until she stepped forward before turning to lead her across the room. Her steps behind him were hesitant, and he knew even without seeing that her gaze was focused, not on him, but on the bed, and he could imagine to confusion that would have tightened her lovely features when he led her past it.

 

“A balcony overlooks the gardens below,” he told her with a gesture to the panel door on the exterior wall of his room. “It opens to all the rooms on this side of the building. I do believe that you would appreciate the view. But as you say that you are cold…”

 

He trailed off, carefully concealing the wicked smirk that wanted to make itself known as he brought her to a stop in front of a gilded dressing mirror. Telling her to wait, he moved to the armoire to get her a new robe.

 

It had been his intention all along to make her attire more appropriate. Though she seemed comfortable enough, especially given that the silk coverlet she was wearing was no less revealing than her usual strange garments; he had been the one, despite her protests, that had ruined her proper dress. With Rin around, and the girl thinking so highly of the miko and soon to be looking to her for much more, he had thought it best to dress Kagome appropriately. That it would keep true to his word that he would buy her another had cinched it.

 

Now, however, she had given him the perfect opportunity, and he had no intentions of letting it pass.

 

Opening the closet, he pulled out one of the elaborate gowns. Though he, quite obviously, had no use for them, he had acquired several over the years either out of payment from a village (women's apparel was far more elaborate and costly than men's, after all), or as an annoying gift from one of his own that knew damn well he didn't have a mate and, before Kagome, had no intentions of acquiring one. The garments had been kept in the Lady's chambers, but, after Rin had found her way into his company, he thought it best to keep them far away from the girl's mud-coated, dust-covered, grass-stained, water-drenched, hopelessly- rugged clothing. Besides, it wasn't like he really needed the closet space.

 

A sakura design inlayed against a deep violet background was what he chose for her to wear, the image so fitting given her short years. Though it would have been at its best with the layers of contrasting pinks and mauves underneath, he didn't bother with any layer except for the topcoat. The miko, he knew, wasn't comfortable in the many layers of these designs, and he was more than happy to accommodate - especially considering it meant fewer layers of material between her and him.

 

Her soft gasp of wonderment as she marveled over the silk almost made him smile. But that would have given him away, so he kept it in check. He moved behind her, watching her watching him through the mirror's surface. His distraction was working marvelously. Her anxiety was almost nonexistent now, her nervous fidgeting replaced by a bright, happy smile that seemed to radiate though her entire being.

 

He lay the silk over her shoulders and smoothed it down over her arms, finding great pleasure in the fact that, though she relaxed into the gesture, his touch still caused her to shiver.

 

“Still cold, Kagome?” he asked, his eyes eagerly taking in the image in the mirror of her standing with him like this.

 

“A little,” she lied.

 

“Hn.” His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back to his chest and holding her there as he leaned down to her ear. “You will not be so for long,” he promised her.

 

The depth and hunger in his voice made her shiver again, and, unwittingly, a soft moan spilled from her lips.

 

“Sesshomaru…” Whether she was asking him to stop or begging for more, even she wasn't sure. It just felt so right to be in his arms, to have his strength holding her, to feel the heat and hardness of his body pressed against hers, to be surrounded and filled with the dancing fires of his spirit as it caressed her own with its soothing calm and powerful pleasure.

 

He responded to her tiny plea by leaning down to her, gently coaxing her to tilt her head back with soft nudges and brushings against her cheek. She did so slowly, not out of reluctance, but simply because she was enjoying the caress, his skin against hers, the wash of his breath as it flowed from his lips, and the way that his kisses, though tender with affection, were still hungry for the taste of her skin and the prize of her lips.

 

When their lips met at long last, the spark of contact ignited the fuels of desire coursing through each into a blazing inferno of passion and fire. Scorching, searing, consuming, it held them breathless, but desperate, too, for it was only the gentle warmth offered by the others lips that could sooth the rush of the fires and tame the unrelenting burn.

 

She trembled in his arms, her own having lifted without thought, driven by need, to wind around his neck and pull her closer to him. But it wasn't enough, she knew, and told him so with the tiny whimper that whined in her throat, her lips too occupied by his to ever think to form words. She heard him groan, the sound low and broken by the rumble of a building growl, and his mouth pressed hard against hers, forcing her lips to part and leave room for his tongue to drive deeply within and engage her own.

 

Hungry for the taste of her, he lingered there, probing deep within the cavern of her mouth for more and more even as his jaw worked to engage the sweetness of her lips. But again she whimpered, the sound, though tiny, slamming into him with enough force to knock the air from his lungs. As reluctant as he was to break away, as in so many tings, he simply could deny her. With a snarl, he forced himself back. He waited only long enough to spin her around so that her soft curves were pressed flush against the solid planes of his body before he dipped his head down again and again took from her lips their sweet offering.

 

And she mewled and sighed in pleasure, her arms once again entwining around his neck to hold herself as he plundered her mouth. She could feel his hold on her tighten, the solid, comforting embrace becoming stiff as he fought against primal urges that would threatened to make his strength more than her fragile mortal body could endure, and she smiled against his lips. He would never hurt her. Even beyond his restraint, in the fiery eyes of the beast, she could see that, knew it without question. So she pulled against him harder, lifting herself until she could wrap one leg around his waist. She trusted him to hold her steady when the motion left her off-balanced, and used what leverage she could find to grind against the swell in his loins that was growing harder by the second.

 

Again he groaned, growling as he dropped one hand to the curve of her backside and held tight as he thrust back against her. The gasp it elicited from her broke the lock of their mouths, but only for an instant. An instant later, and the heat of his mouth was pressing down on her, his lips sliding across hers even as his tongue pressed through with her welcome to stroke and tangle with her own.

 

It was so easy, far, far too easy, in the face of such pleasure, surrounded by the heat and consumed by the fire of passion, to simply forget, forget everything except for the demands of her body, the yearning that throbbed between her legs, and the need that was more of a hunger to be filled only by him. And so, for a moment, just a moment, she allowed it to take over, allowed her confusion an doubt and pain to be swept away by his masterful hands, allowed her own desires to flow freely and be fed by his own, allowed herself to fall into the heat of his passion and her heavy burdens to be washed away in the moisture of his kiss.

 

“Rin!”

 

The shouting voice was more like a keening wail against his sensitive ears, but Sesshomaru expertly tuned out the sound - something he found far easier to do with such exquisite distractions. At that moment, with Kagome in his arms, he felt more at home than he ever had in this place. Everything was so perfect that the world could have torn itself apart outside of these walls and he wouldn't have cared.

 

But though he could detach himself from the sound of that voice, the annoyance of its owner, and even any care for its words, that could not stop him from hearing it.

 

“What are you doing in here, you dreadful child? You should be sleeping, not up and about causing havoc! When Lord Sesshomaru hears about this…”

 

“But Master Jaken,” Rin's sing-song voice was sweet music to his ears in relief from the toad's shrieking, “Lord Sesshomaru knows that Rin is here. He asked Rin to show Miss Kagome…”

 

“The miko!!”

 

Another shriek from the toad, and Sesshomaru's hold tightened around his little miko.

 

“That's what I said, Master Jaken, Miss Kagome!” There was such excitement in her little voice, and pride. “Rin has been showing her all of Home!”

 

“H…Home…?” The toad stuttered weakly. “The…the…miko…? H…here…?” And then… “GAHH!! Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!! Lord Sesshomaru!!!”

 

It was the smacking sound of toad feet running across the hardwood floors directly towards his bedchamber that made it impossible for him to ignore the commotion any longer.

 

A low, rumbling, agitated growl began shaking in Sesshomaru's chest, and Kagome, held so tightly against those tingling vibrations, giggled at his reaction. Even without Sesshomaru's hearing, she would have had to be deaf to not hear the terrible squawking of the little toad.

 

Pulling back with reluctance, she found her footing again and flashed him a crooked smile. “Think he'd have a heart attack if he found us like this?”

 

“One can only hope,” he replied flatly.

 

Her smile broadening, Kagome shook her head. “You're terrible, you know that?”

 

“Yes.”

 

He gave his answer without hesitation, and Kagome rolled her eyes at his arrogance. No doubt he was taking it as a compliment - The Great and Terrible Inu Lord and all that. Still, even knowing her playful jibe had totally backfired, her smile did not fade.

 

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” She sighed wistfully and made to pull out of his arms, “I guess we should…”

 

But Sesshomaru stopped her short by locking his arms around her waist. “Do you know the best way to deal with the imp?” he asked her. When Kagome shook her head no, he told her simply, “You don't.”

 

The gleam in his eyes matched the wicked inflection in his voice, and Kagome recognized it immediately. He was playing yet another one of his games. He played expertly, of course, taking them as seriously as he did everything - like life and death were the dues to be paid - and to everyone around him it would seem as though that were the case. But it was a game. She knew this, as she knew him. And to know that she knew him like no other, that she and perhaps she alone, could see this side of him that would take joy in something as small and silly as a simple game of avoidance, filled her with excitement and anticipation that she knew had nothing to do with the game he was literally pulling her into.

 

He had taken her hands in his and was urging her to move with him. She quickly fell in step, a surge of adrenaline heightening her awareness of everything as it tingled through her. She stumbled, her shorter, slower strides making it difficult for her to keep up with his longer, more graceful ones; but she merely compensated by stepping it up until she was practically jogging across the room. She knew she must have been grinning like a fool when he looked back to check on her, but she didn't care. The little chase was exhilarating. Not to mention a sorely needed distraction from what had transpired only moments ago.

 

She had to check her giggles, covering her mouth with the hand that Sesshomaru had released so that he could slide open the panel on the outside wall.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama!”

 

The little toad's frantic call came from just outside of the bedroom. It sent a jolt of thrill running through her, knowing how close he was, but also that they were just one step ahead. Even as she began to hear the slap, slap, slap of Jaken's scaly little feet as they pummeled the hardwood, Sesshomaru was ushering her out the door. The second she was past, he was closing it again, so quickly that she felt a brush of disturbed air as it was forced from its path.

 

“Sessshhhooomaru-sama!”

 

Kagome was biting her lip fiercely to hold herself back from breaking into a riotous fit of laughter that would give them away, but she knew if she stood there any longer, just on the other side of the door where the little toad was so desperately seeking his master, she would loose it completely. Tugging Sesshomaru's hand where it was clutching hers, she brought him with her as she made a break for it.

 

The balcony was an expansive wrap-around that stretched the entire back wall of the building and branched off at either end to leave a private alcove for the master bedroom. This branch was sheltered from the main walkway by an arching trellis covered in climbing vines of lush greens and beautiful blossoms, but Kagome hardly noticed as she pushed her way through to gain the main platform, turning the corner quickly to keep out of sight and reach of the pestering toad following them. She ran until she hit the railing that divided the deck from the gardens, and once there, collapsed against it, finally relenting to the overpowering urge to laugh her ass off.

 

“That was…hilarious!” she chocked out between fits of laughter. “Oh man…we have got to do that more often!”

 

She looked up to Sesshomaru as she spoke, but seeing him, the barest of smiles gracing even his lips and a softness edging away the piercing gold of his eyes as he looked at her, and she suddenly didn't feel like laughing anymore. He was smiling, and she had done it. He was enjoying himself, and it was because of her. It almost made her think that she really could be the one to make him happy, to love him as he so deserved…even if he could never allow himself to do the same.

 

But that was just it. When she was with him, when he touched her, when he held her, when spoke for her and fought for her, she felt more than needed, more than wanted, more than recognized or protected. She felt loved. And she wanted that. She wanted it with every breath she took and every beat of her heart. And, she knew, she wanted it to be him that would give such things to her.

 

She wanted. Oh, how she wanted. How she wished that it could just be so easy. But it could never be so. They were still time and worlds apart. There was still so much that made their being together impossible. The others had accepted, both her friends and his Great family, but they had not been given a choice. Now the choice had been left to her, and she didn't know where she was going to find the strength to make it.

 

Even if she could forget her time, her friends, her family, even if she could convince herself that she belonged here, in this world of the past; what then? Live with him, only to be Lady in title alone? Love him, but only for those few years she was allowed before her mortal body began to give way and he would be forced to watch her age and die while he remained eternal? Give him a family, only to have her children raised by another when their half-demon blood saw to their lasting youth and she was taken from them all too soon? Be a lover, a wife, a mate, a mother, all when she still had to face down the Shikon threat and see to Naraku's destruction and had no promises that she would be even given the choice of staying once they both were gone?

 

Was it selfish of her, to know all this, and still want beyond anything to stay with him? Was it weak of her, knowing what should be, that she didn't think she would be able to go back if it meant leaving him? Was it wrong of her, even knowing there had been no other way, to have given him her favor which made it impossible for him to turn back?

 

What was right? She didn't know anymore. Things were so confusing, so complicated. Yet it was her heart that insisted it wasn't so, that it didn't have to be so hard, that so long as she had faith, believed in him, in herself, and in the love they shared, that nothing would be so hard ever again.

 

And in the way he looked at her, she found herself almost believing it.

 

She looked away, still not ready to face this truth. “We should get going. Rin is probably wondering where we are.”

 

“If that is your wish.”

 

“It…is.” Her reply was hesitant, a part of her thinking that her heart just couldn't take any more.

 

Sesshomaru had sensed the rapid decline in her mood. She had gone from carefree laughter to sullen depression in the span of only seconds. And that she had done so while looking directly at him was…concerning. No, it was more than that. The tight feeling that had twisted itself in his gut and began spreading through his body he knew all too well.

 

It had made him angry.

 

She looked at him as though the very thought of being with him caused her pain, and he couldn't stand it, wouldn't stand for it. He had defended her, fought for her, forgone tradition, culture, status, breeding, and race, broken every law that was and even those that Nature herself decreed to have her for his mate. He had taken her into his Home, bid her welcome, offered her everything she could ever need - far more than any other female, let alone a human woman could ask for - and still it wasn't enough.

 

He had hoped that it wouldn't have to come to this, hoped that she would have been different, but she was being more difficult than he had anticipated. And though her stubbornness usually was a source of amusement, even attraction, in this it only managed to anger him further.

 

He wanted her to make this decision, but in that moment he realized that he wanted more. He wanted her to make this decision, not because of any accomplishment or deed, not because of any wealth or status or power, not because of anything that he had always known would give him his choice of mate. He wanted her to want him as he wanted her - inexplicably, unfathomably, passionately, and dare he say, desperately.

 

He had never wanted anything as he wanted her. He would have traded his lifetimes for only the moments they had shared, because it was in those moments that he had felt more alive that he ever had. From days of conflict and struggle where together they overcame every barrier and paved new roads of discovery, to stolen moments of tenderness and unexpected joy where in even the smallest of phrase or action or touch could have more meaning than a thousand words, to nights of passion which burned through him in searing waves of something so much more than ecstasy that he could no longer question something once thought impossible, only acknowledge it as what is, what must be - and as incredible as it was, they had only scratched the surface of what could be.

 

That she couldn't see what was so clear to him made him angry. And that she would suffer the pain this indecision brought her and not let him take it away as he knew could and knew, if not for her denial, she wanted for him to, made him angrier still.

 

Fortunately, he was well practiced at keeping his more volatile emotions in check, and did so flawlessly as he took her arm and began leading her towards the back sitting room. She would come around eventually. He wouldn't for a second think otherwise. That would be unacceptable - for her, because she would be making a terrible mistake; and for him, because even the possibility of loosing her when he had only just found her was unthinkable, unbearable.

 

So, he brought her back into the company of his young ward so that the official tour could continue. After that, if she still wasn't convinced, he would take her on the unofficial tour. Perhaps then she would be more inclined to give the answer he never doubted she would. And if not, well, there was always plan B.

 

 

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