Chapter 1: First Taste
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The expression on Inutaisho's face was one of utter contempt.
"This child is male." He said bluntly, his piercing gaze shifting from the raven haired hanyou to his poised sire. The tall, slight, spider youkai placed one of his long boned fingers on the boy's shoulder and the little hanyou visibly flinched.
"That he is." replied the Kumo Lord evenly, his voice a mocking slither.
"And what exactly what I do in terms of an heir? You are surely not foolish enough to believe that the Inu lines end with my son?" replied an impatient Inutaisho.
"Of course My Lord, the Great Inu no Taisho comes from a long-standing heritage of powerful demons. If mated, a potion would be brewed for the hanyou, such that he could bear the Lord Sesshoumaru young." Again the small one shivered, his needlepoint fangs chewing his lower lip.
"Mated, Lord Kumo? I believe you are getting rather ahead of yourself."
"My utmost apologies…" replied the cool Kumo, the parody of a bow arching his narrow body. "It was presumptuous of me to assume you had taken any interest at all."
"It isn't my interest that should concern you. It is Sesshoumaru's." at this Sesshoumaru looked up from his father's side, having watched the entire exchange rather passively.
"Sesshoumaru?" prompted Inutaisho.
Sesshoumaru's indifferent expression shifted to the small hanyou, noting the way the boy seemingly shrunk away although he remained perfectly still.
"What of him?" asked Sesshoumaru in a monotone voice.
"Is he to your liking?"
Sesshoumaru shrugged, "he is young," he replied.
"How about we give them some time ... to get acquainted," said the Kumo quickly, a rather suggestive implication to his tone.
"Fine." Said Inutaisho before Sesshoumaru could voice his disagreement.
The Kumo roughly pushed his son forward whose knees looked as if they were ready to give out beneath him. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed but he said nothing. Without a word, he dismissively turned on his heels, exiting the receiving hall without looking back. His sensitive ears caught the barely audible footsteps behind that indicated the smaller hanyou was following. He led the boy from room to room, half testing to see if the boy would follow at all. Although, he considered, given the alternative which meant returning to his cruel looking father, there was really not much of a choice at all...
Finally, Sesshoumaru took mercy on the faltering footsteps and hesitant aura surrounding the boy. He turned in the direction of a small but peaceful bodi tree garden, settling beneath a wide, crooked trunk beside a small stream. The little hanyou looked about timidly before cautiously lowering himself a good four feet from the youkai Lord. Sesshoumaru gazed at the small one indifferently.
"What is your name, little kumo?" he questioned softly.
"Naraku" whispered the child.
"Do you want to be my mate, Naraku?"
"No." Naraku replied to his palms, cradling a pale lilly in his spindly fingers.
Sesshoumaru smiled despite himself. The picture before him was one more perfectly innocent than he could remember in a long time. The rejection itself mattered little to him- the boy was far too young anyway, barely a teen by youkai standards. Furthermore, he was not particularly interested in taking a mate in the first place, merely obeying the wishes of his father.
A silence settled between the two, and just as Naraku began to appear uncomfortable, a servant entered the small garden. The servant bowed low and then waited for leave to speak. Sesshoumaru nodded his head almost imperceptibly.
"Do you desire anything, My Lord? His Greatness the Lord Inutaisho wishes that you spend the afternoon with Lord Naraku whilst he speaks with the Lord Kumo."
"I see," replied Sesshoumaru levelly, glancing briefly at the small kumo. Naraku had seemingly shrunk in on himself even more since the arrival of the servant. His little hands clenched around the small lilly, crumpling it unconsciously.
"Bring us tea then, and food as well. Is there anything in particular you desire Naraku?"
Naraku looked up, eyes wide. Biting his lip, a timid reply fell from his mouth, too soft even for Sesshoumaru's sensitive ears.
"What is that little one?" he chided, leaning in a bit closer.
"Can- can I have sweets?" his request was accompanied by a warm blush tinging his cheeks. A small smile touched the corners of Sesshoumaru's lips and he nodded to the servant.
"Of course." he said, straightening again. The servant departed with a respectful bow, hiding his own smile.
The garden fell back into silence, though there was a more peaceful air to the atmosphere. Naraku smoothed out the delicate lilly and placed it before his crossed ankles. Glancing at Sesshoumaru, as if fearing attack, he got to his hands and knees and stretched towards the lazy stream, running his fingers through the clear water, seemingly mesmerized. Next he rested his hand just above the long strands of wild grass and flowers, letting the wind tickle his palm. Sesshoumaru watched discreetly, ignoring the part of his brain perfectly aware with the fact that his gaze was wandering all over the slender little body, not helped by he fact that the boy was dressed in little more than a light haori and pants; likely his father's calculated doing. Worse still, the light material was riding up on the boy's pale torso, exposing the curve of a hipbone and the light dimples that dotted the hanyou's lower back. As if aware of Sesshoumaru's stare, Naraku quickly snapped back into himself, curling up and tucking his chin against his knees defensively.
"I'm sorry," he whispered in a rush, as if expecting to be hit. There was an awkward moment, broken thankfully by the return of the previous servant, as well as his twin. Both brothers were laden with trays of tea, an array of raw meats, and a mountain of various sweets. They placed the trays down with even smirks and departed quickly, glancing surreptitiously over their shoulders.
Naraku's eyes widened at the sight of so many different choices. He waited respectfully for Sesshoumaru to eat first, surprised when Sesshoumaru poured two cups of tea, rather than one.
"Honey?" questioned Sesshoumaru, seeing the way the kumo's eyes lit up.
"Yes please," he replied in the most enthusiastic voice Sesshoumaru had heard thus far. Sesshoumaru poured a generous amount of honey into the amber liquid and then handed it over to Naraku who drank eagerly, calmed by the warm tea. Timidly, glancing at Sesshoumaru for permission, he reached for a round sweet biscuit. His eyes widened with the first bite, his senses overwhelmed by the sugary sweetness. His father had never allowed him such indulgences. His father was so harsh ... yet Sesshoumaru, a youkai he didn't even know offered him such things freely and generously. Perhaps he could be mated to the detached inu youkai after all? He didn't seem very cruel, nor did he treat Naraku unkindly, not yet- in fact he couldn't imagine a reprimand much worse than a cuff to the ears, or a light beating if he made the Lord very angry, nothing like his father... But then, he realized, slightly crest-fallen, the other likely didn't even want him to begin with. He was small, mousy, and a hanyou to boot- nothing comparable to the powerful Lord with all of his beauty and grace.
Sesshoumaru could've laughed at the blissful look that graced the young one's features as he tasted what looked to be his first cookie. However, the look soon disappeared as a multitude of others, each sadder than the last, flitted across his face in rapid succession. Frowning at the melancholy mood that had settled, he reached for a second treat, his personal favorite, and gradually presented it to Naraku hoping to ease his brooding state of mind.
Naraku's attention shifted back to reality and he cocked his head at the dessert he was obviously meant to accept. It was also round, only the center was filled with apples and was scented lightly of cinnamon. Careful not to let their hands touch, Naraku accepted the second offering, his eyes widening as he encountered a taste even better than the last. He finished off the second treat quickly, forgetting his manners as he began licking the sticky filling from his fingers. Unaware of the feral, almost lustful gaze he was receiving, he laved his fingers clean, venturing on to a thin strip of rabbit meat.
Snapping his attention back from a select few salacious ideas, Sesshoumaru busied himself eating as well. By the time both youkai had eaten their fill, nearly all of the plates were empty. With the last cup of tea, Sesshoumaru could see Naraku's eyelids droop. He looked far better since they had entered the garden, sated and far more relaxed. He slumped a little, seemingly more exhausted than Sesshoumaru had anticipated.
"Come here," he growled lightly, not entirely certain what he was requesting. Naraku searched his face for a moment, the first vestiges of fear beginning to creep back into his features. Knowing he could not refuse a direct order, he obediently crawled closer to the lounging Lord, leaving a good foot between them.
"You are tired," said Sesshoumaru gently, holding his breath for a sudden retreat. "Here," he patted the spot beside him, "lie down, the grass is very soft and there is shade yet."
Apprehensively, Naraku glanced at the patch of green beside Sesshoumaru, and then back to his face. Light shivers spiraled through his body, but he repressed his nerves in favor of submitting quietly. He finally moved forward again, curling up gingerly beside Sesshoumaru, back to the older youkai's side.
Sesshoumaru knew Naraku was still very frightened but with each passing moment, he noticed the boy slowly release his breath a little more. Eventually, he had settled into an almost boneless tangle of limbs against the cushiony ground. In sleep, everything about the boy was much calmer, and to Sesshoumaru's chagrin, admittedly younger too. He stroked a inky lock of hair away from the boy's ivory face. He gazed almost fascinated at the map of old bruises near his cheeks and neck. Unconsciously, he shifted the light haori away from the boy's collarbones, unsurprised to see more bruises and a few burns marring the snowy skin. The injuries happened frequently, he realized grimly, for youkai healed too fast for these wounds to be much older than a few weeks. The boy shifted towards the gentle touch until he had rolled onto his back, lightly nuzzling in the direction of the trance-like caresses. Snapping back to his senses, Sesshoumaru removed his hand and resigned himself to an afternoon of meditation.
It wasn't much later, however when he awoke to a melee of whimpers and subdued sobs. Coming back to his senses, he located the small kumo, thrashing beside him. He gently grasped a small wrist and placed his other hand over Naraku's slightly perspiring forehead. Focusing calming energy towards the distressed child, he emitted slow pulses of soothing emotion towards the other. Naraku slowly began to relax, his body becoming limp. His eyelids fluttered briefly before smoothing out, eyelashes fanned out against ivory cheekbones. Carefully, Sesshoumaru shifted the boy's face into his lap, stroking away sweaty dark hair. Perhaps more for his own his good than Naraku's, he reached down and pulled the haori closer to the boy as it had been riding up over time. One of the kumo's hands unconsciously slid up to clutch the edge of Sesshoumaru's pelt, but Sesshoumaru found he didn't mind too much. He was becoming fond of the boy, he knew it, but he didn't care to dwell on such thoughts.
It was perhaps then, both a relief and a distress when Inutaisho and the Kumo Lord entered the garden and the boy in his lap awoke.
It would not be the last time Sesshoumaru would see so much fear, betrayal, and helplessness painted into Naraku's expression. It was a battle, he realized, his mate would forever fight, only Sesshoumaru vowed he would be there next time, even if it meant a century would pass before Naraku would be his.
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A/N- As always, let me know what you think. I know I probably missed a few japanese words and misspelled stuff and entirely westernized cultural stuff. I know... I fail...
More to come.
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Chapter 2: Sweet Tooth