Step 3 – Cultivate Suspicion
By now, you have selected your lover and have prepared one another with the necessary information and history to be successful. When these steps are fully completed, and the both of you are comfortable with one another, it is time for you to strike forth and plant hints of your misdeeds to key members of your audience (which may include your betrothed, both sets of parents, and close friends).
It is recommended that you take your time with this. The longer the seeds have to germinate, the larger the fruits that you reap will be, and the more established your relationship with your lover is as opposed to being a 'fling'. Allow ideas to fester, and make the clues easy for you to overlook, fairly obvious to another, and semi-simple to explain away. Discuss ideas for seeds with your lover, unless your levels of intimacy give you plenty to choose from.
Some hints we recommend include, for humans, a distinct change of hairstyle after seeing your lover, rumpled clothing, a trace of your lover's cologne or perfume, or missing a sock when you remove your shoes. For yōkai, play on your audience's senses, and depending on your age, inquire over your customs in regards to intimacy and relationships.
WARNING: If you are in a time press and are running through these steps, please see it as mandatory that neither you nor your lover are being pressed past their comfort zone. These steps work best when taken at a gradual pace, but if you are rushed be sure that neither you nor your lover ends up tripping on overseen details in the near future.
"Miko."
The word jostled Kagome's senses into gear, and she immediately sat bolt upright, heart racing and wide-eyed as her gaze darted around. "This is not Kaede's Village..."
Her eyes locked onto Sesshōmaru standing nearby, and memories from yesterday came crashing back in. She stared at him as facts slowly locked into place, part of her still dreaming. "Did we sleep together?"
He did not move, but one elegant eyebrow slowly began to lift out of that semi-permanent frown of his. "You have accumulated no small amount of debris in your hair, miko."
The comment had her frowning a moment. "This is how day two starts..." With mental images of the worst possible things being in her hair, from caterpillars to bird nests, she began fingering through it, brushing through as best she could. "I didn't wake up at all last night. Did we even touch at all?"
"Leave your grooming for later." Her hands stilled as she refocused on him. "Today I will leave to take care of the particulars of our farce. Gather your things, I will leave you at a hot spring."
For some unexplained reason, the muscles holding her jaw closed decided to take a break. Her expression had him moving his head slightly to the left, eying her, and he inquired over her health. "Eh? No, I'm fine, it's just that..." There was no good conversational path to go down with the material at hand. "I just-" She cut off instantly when he took lightly into hand the hair behind her head, and with that he soon had her looking upward, her adrenaline from waking up threatening her with a heart attack.
"Such deplorable speech," he muttered, kissing her. She blinked. Yes, that was a part of yesterday as well. How humiliating... When he pulled away, a certain degree of satisfaction appeared as he studied her face. "Gather your things."
She was released, and left to stumble around camp, gathering nicely smoked meat and her new 'knife', which she had thrown into the fire to sterilize. The meat she stored in the hanging, pocket-like interior of her sleeves. The rock, thanks to its weight and wedge shape, was nestled between the folded layers of her white hakui over her abdomen, tucked firmly under the tied straps of her hakama. Swinging her arms once and swaying on her heels, she decided that things were as good as they would get.
"Okay," she stated with a grin. "I am ready!"
Sesshōmaru gestured for her to come closer, and she did at a slow pace. His expression darkened, and he repeated the gesture, sharply. Suspicious, she hurried over by small increments. This seemed to irritate him, because when she was close he grabbed her sleeve and yanked her up against his front.
"Ow!" she yipped as the side of her chin collided with a point of his armor. It did so again, more softly, as he slipped an arm around the small of her back and pulled her close, holding her in place. Angrily, she planted her palms on the offending mental and pushed as far back as she could, glaring up at him. "Hey! That is not how you treat a la- Whoah!" The sensation of movement alerted her, and she looked around. They were floating, and just now leaving the treetops. Her heart began to flutter. "U-um, this is high enough." They went higher, and her palms slid up the armor, fingers hooking over the upper rim with enough force to blanch her knuckles. "Okay, this is pretty high up." They went higher, and she found herself pressing closer and closer to him. "Please, do not go any higher..." she whimpered.
"Doing so will make the journey shorter."
"I would much rather suffer with your personality." There was silence, and she looked up to see him glaring down at her, and her spine stiffened with shock. "N-not that there is anything really wrong with it, not with some alterations. SMALL alterations, I am sure!" The land flew past as forward momentum appeared, and she shot her arms around him, wincing her eyes shut. Embracing firmly, getting so close that even her face was pressed against the crossing fabrics at the base of his neck, she could have cried from fear knowing her feet stood only on yōki,which was much, much different than being on Kirara's strong, physically present back. Air tore past, her hair going anywhere but by gravity's laws. "Please do not let me fall..."
As though to reassure her, his grip above her waist tightened. She loosened hers in turn, but remained against him, worried. She remembered jumping from heights in feats of stupidity when she was younger, but Inu-Yasha had always been there to catch her, and he always carried her securely on his back when her feet were deemed useless. He carried her trust at the same time. Trusting Sesshōmaru with this, with her very life, was proving to be difficult.
She shifted, the side of her brow rubbing against skin. At that moment, she did not care how inappropriately personable that was. "... Even if it is, I've got to get comfortable around him. Come on, Kagome, enjoy the attentions of a handsome guy while you can, and help him out only as a coincidental consequence." The term handsome rattled around her brain for a noisy minute as her hearing was dominated by gale-force winds.
Eventually they slowed, and descended. Kagome remained as she was until she felt her feet touch the ground, his yōki dissipating. Ground, solid and wonderful, was hers at last! She pulled away, and failed when his free arm clasped her close, his strong hand against the side of her head, pinning her cheek to his torso.
"You have tainted me with the scent of your fear." She marveled at the sound of his voice as it came through his chest and straight into her ear. It was deeper, muffled, but what she heard past the index finger pressed against her face sounded normal, but... different. "You woke afraid. You acted nervous around me.." The thumb braced against her cheek shifted with his fingers, and she panicked with the thought of his claw being so near her eye. "Why?"
"I did not wake up afraid of you, I was just startled." She shifted, wanting to move away, and he held her more tightly. He was very strong, and that thought had her heart fluttering. "And I was not nervous before the flight, just suspicious over why I had to get so close."
"You did not trust me to keep you safe." She frowned, more curious over why he would care as opposed to anxious over offending him. "I have provided for you, and have indulged your needs. Is it a failing of humanity to not have faith in a proven protector?"
Blinking, she doubled her efforts to get away. "Sesshōmaru, let me go."
"Answer, miko."
"Why should I?" Why was her heart skipping to a silent tune all of a sudden? "You are right, I did not trust you to not drop me. Are you happy now?" Anger stirred when her efforts rendered nothing. "You have given me no reason to trust you with my life! Not only have you tried to take it twice, but you also use my physical safety as a bargaining chip!" He did not care. He could not care, and she knew it. Why was he acting differently? Did something happen last night?
"You have aided Inu-Yasha in his attempts to harm me." She faltered at his words. "You have shot a purifying arrow at me. Despite these acts, I have allowed you to live, and even came to your aid when no other could." She recalled these things. Slowly, a sense of guilt began to swell in her. "You know how prideful I am. You have earned my respect, enough so that I would come to you for aid when I need it, when no other could help." His hold loosened, and she pulled back, fixating on him, wondering where the Sesshōmaru she knew had gone to. He appeared somber, and serious, and her heart fluttered again. "Trust me, miko. Your fear is insulting."
She stared. Her blood rushed through her, and she felt a little light headed. Something brushed her cheek, and she realized with a small gasp that his hand did not leave her face. "Sesshōmaru...?"
His unwavering attention had her blush, and she glanced away. She tried to turn her face as well, but he easily caught her chin in a gentle grip. With widened eyes she looked up at him, and thought her heart would pound its way out of her chest. Her eyes widened even further when he advanced, shock freezing her.
His lips were warm on hers. A light kiss, not invasive and not greedy. She shifted her lips, and he mimicked her. A warm sensation flooded her, almost too warm in some areas. Wanting to feel that again, she moved her mouth against his, and he responded, then pursued. "Is this really happening?" Part of her quibbled frantically in the back of her mind, but her thoughts felt distant. It was nice. She wanted to feel more.
His hand moved on the small of her back, discretely, curiously. She was curious, too. What was happening? The thought was stored away for another time as her eyelids slid shut. She wanted to feel this way. She wanted to feel even better. Hungrily, she tossed some passion into their moment, her mouth working with a mind of its own and her fingers fearlessly feeling his upper chest. He pulled her in once again, and a thrill shot through her, feverishly hot and chillingly cold all at once as it tingled to her core. Soft silky strands slipped in between her fingers as her hand touched the side of his neck, the curve of his jaw, the lobe of his ear. She did not mind when his hand traveled to the slope of her bottom, or when he lightly grasped the back of her neck to better deepen the kiss. Her nerves were hypersensitive, every little thing thrilling her beyond reason. She was becoming lost in abandonment, lost in a cave that rang with delicious sensation.
Sesshōmaru pulled away.
Startled, her senses coming painfully back, she stared at him. He disentangled himself from her, and stepped back. "That will do."
Kagome frowned, confused. "What will do?"
"This new scent," he answered, completely unfazed by their exchange. "I will return before sunset."
And just like that he was gone. As her mind chewed on the facts, her anger burned in the light of dawning realization. "He-! He USED me!"
Sesshōmaru smirked when a distant shriek of pure rage reached his acute hearing. The miko had begun to lose herself to temptation, and – according to the string of profanity echoing in the distance – refused to take responsibility for her own failings. He would most likely have to settle with her when he returned, but such was not daunting. In fact, after today, having a senseless argument may be a welcomed relief.
Cautiously, he burned away her scent with his yōki in extremely small portions. He stopped when only the suggestion of a hint remained, an amount which would be easy for any bearer to overlook.
As prepared as he could be, he finished the journey in a sphere of yōki. The o-shiro was easy to find since he had scouted its location early that morning, needing something to do after his initial attempt to acquire the miko's scent. His thoughts had been restless all morning, and he had found satisfaction in settling on sheer determination. He would achieve his goals, no matter the cost, and it was as simple as that.
The cloud his floating castle generated came into view. In the blink of an eye he shot over it, and passed through the yōki barrier set around the o-shiro. Bypassing the broad expanse of courtyard reserved for receiving visitors, he landed in the small, quiet garden set in the center of his private quarters, which were connected to the remainder of the o-shiro merely by a covered rōka with sliding, rice paper paneled shōji.
His landing disturbed the surface of the water feature in the garden, and the shōji lining his quarters shuddered in the air ripples. He waited for the environment to settle, then walked to the polished wood engawa encircling the garden, senses focused on his surroundings. He had a visitor, and she had yet to come forth. Mounting a step of rock, he sensed her stirring, and casually moved to meet her.
Before he could do it himself, the shōji doors slid open thanks to a servant on the inside. The submissive female closed them behind him as well, and he approached his futon.
The silver haired, golden eyed female lounging across it was familiar to him. They had known one another for quite some time now; yet she still expected him to return meaningless things like grins, which she offered upon seeing him.
"You return," she commented, rising from the bedding. Her scent plagued the room. She enjoyed occupying it while he was away, and to his immense vexation she had every right to. Without preamble she pressed up against him, smiling and taking hold of his waist with one hand, cupping his cheek with the other. "I have missed you dearly, love."
Offering a flat expression in return, he took her wrist and pulled her hand away from his face. She immediately took her hand back, and began to relinquish him of his armor and weapons. He permitted it, had to, but as she set the final thing aside he crossed his room, avoiding her. Not wishing to act too differently in the face of his future victory, he fell into old habits, ones she knew well, and settled onto his futon. Her scent greeted him strongly, rising from the mattress, and he immediately desired to replace it with his, which was a faint undertone in the bedding.
"Where have you been?" she asked lightly, simpering, as she lowered herself to the bed next to him. Her leg slid over one of his, and she assertively pressed him onto his back when he began to roll away. As grating as it was, tradition granted her superiority over him until after mating, mostly for the sake of her physical safety. She slid partway over him, smirking with promise while dragging a claw along the eri collar or his clothing. "Ever the silent type. I find that very appealing."
He looked away, and she turned his face back to her. Leaning in, making every aspect of her femininity obvious as she did so, she claimed his mouth with hers, humming in a very pleasing manner. His hand was grabbed and placed on her waist, and her kisses moved to his jawline, teasing him as she simpered happily to her future alpha. He tilted his head away again, and her lips moved to his ear.
"I know what my male enjoys," she commented seductively, her hands playing along his body as her warm breath curled into his ear. As per usual, her actions had their consequences, and he bit his lip for a distraction.
"None of that," she snapped lightly, pulling his lip from between his teeth and nipping it herself as her hand slipped under the collar of his clothing, smoothing across his skin. "You are such a temperamental pup, Sesshōmaru."
"I am not here for your attentions, Meiling."
"Then you should not have come," she teased. He felt her beginning to tug at the sash around his waist, and sat up. She tried to subdue him, but he was far stronger than her, and merely indulged her antics as acknowledgment of his status between them. She twisted, and sat on his lap before he could stand. "Sesshōmaru, submit to me."
"I have better things to do." She took his chin in hand, a far too familiar gesture, and leaned in, biting his ear. His instincts knew the reprimand, but he ignored them, refusing to yield.
"You have not been home for days," she informed, looking him in the eye and still holding his face in her hand. "How do you expect me to get into heat for us to be mated if you refuse to be here when I need you?"
"Perhaps we will postpone the mating then," he suggested, pushing her off and standing. She was quick to wrap her arms around him from behind.
"Sesshōmaru, I need you," she informed, firm and demanding and yet still tempting. "Now."
"I do not require you," he stated, working himself out of the knot she had made of her arms. "If you wish for attention, seek another male."
"You know you are the only one for me." Without restraint, she pinched his bottom before pushing him between the shoulders, making him step forward once. "Fine. Go tend to your interests. But later, you are mine to do with as I please."
He walked away without looking back, and she made a small, flustered 'keh' before the servant closed the shōji behind him. That female was and had been the bane of his existence for close to four years now, ever since his mother urged her to live in Japan. The offered excuse was to allow her time to grow accustomed to the culture and food before having to bear a pup in the new environment, but Sesshōmaru and everyone else knew better. Since coming to stay, that female had made it her life's mission to woo him. After the first winter he had gotten so completely fed up with her that he took off in the spring to meander Japan for two seasons, which happened to be when he decided to resolve the unnecessary difficulties in his life and to grow stronger as quickly as possible. It was also when he found Rin, and met the miko who fearlessly, stupidly tried to foul his plans in his father's grave. As grating as it was, she had succeeded flawlessly.
Entering the main o-shiro, he slid open and closed a shōji himself before continuing on his way. A servant spotted him, and hurried to shadow him by some distance. It was an inevitable and easily ignored act. After all, Sesshōmaru was not expected to perform his own services, not when there were females around to impress. The thought almost curled his upper lip with vexation. If Meiling was not enough, over the last year several high status and powerful lords seeking favor sent their female pups to plague Sesshōmaru in the high hopes of ranking soon after Meiling as future mates. In private they squabbled and fought one another. In public-
His thoughts were a curse. Three female entered the rōka he traveled down, coming from a cross-corridor. Without hesitation they veered for him with varying degrees of simpering and attraction on their faces, allowing once-suppressed yōki to flow freely. Three he had to deal with, wafting around the o-shiro like the scent of something spoiling, and that was after his mother had turned away the vast majority of 'offerings'. The females coming toward him, gently and bitterly jostling one another if they ever touched, had been permitted not only for their family lineage and status, but also for their innate qualities. Meiling would be his first – if his mother had any say about it – for the sole reason of tying in their slowly growing numbers in Japan to the court in China, which would give him more influence and importance in the future. These females, practically snarling at one another, would each be able to beat Meiling in physical combat though, and they possessed traces of desired qualities, including a member of the only other pack to dapple in the acid clan genetics while said clan acknowledged inu on a friendly level. These females would produce strong, healthy offspring for Sesshōmaru, and none of them were unappealing to say the least.
They stopped ahead of him, effectively blocking the rōka side by side, each one wishing to be seen fully from head to toe. Despite their desire for full visual access, they stood in measured distances from him. The strongest female was permitted to be closer to him by mere inches, and the weakest of the three – who was still substantially strong – stood half a pace behind the furthest forward female. Peeved, he came to a standstill, and they bowed to him in greeting, hands perfectly positioned over their laps.
"Welcome home, Sesshōmaru-Denka," the higher status female greeted, rising first from her bow. Unlike Meiling, these females did not have the right of familiarity in dropping his honorific, which served to remind him that the miko still needed to practice recognizing the status' of those around her; particularly his. "We were intent on enjoying our morning tea when you arrived. Would you honor us with your presence?"
Her lack of a lie made it obvious that while all three of them took to their tea at the same time in the mornings, it was most certainly not done in the same room let alone from the same teapot. Suffering their natural dispositions toward one another was one of the least appealing things he could imagine.
"Perhaps another day," he stated. Like Meiling, these females had particular rights to him, being guests in his home for one sole reason. If he had other things to see to, they had to stay out of his way. Meiling, on the other hand, had a right to pull him into bed even if the o-shiro was under attack, but that would change if they were ever mated. The only other exception these females had from Meiling's privileges was a lacking right to violate his privacy in terms of his personal territory and his very personal self. If that did not exist, he would not put it past them for an instant to team up and violate his person at every given opportunity. That would be one of the few things they would assist one another with, to an extent, since their status' would change if they got with his child. Thanks to that fact, they swooned and attempted to woo him every chance they got. It was very vexing.
He smirked at a thought, and their attentions perked hopefully. These females would remove one of their own limbs to get as far with him as the miko had, and she was a very ungrateful human given the circumstances.
"It has been several days," the prettiest, by his preferences, of the three stated dolefully. She was second strongest. "Our patience has earned us a right to your private attentions, which you seem to already be giving to another. Someone we have not met."
She had a sharp nose, picking up on the miko's scent from that distance. As the other two stared at him wide-eyed he pressed onward, and they stepped aside, scenting him.
"Sesshōmaru-Denka!" one of them yelled angrily; they all conditioned their voices to be so sweet that in the end they were fairly indistinguishable. "Who is she? What is the meaning of this!"
He ignored them, and only the servant followed in his wake. The females found common grounds in this small discovery, and for show he flared his yōki, thoroughly cleaning his scent. That sent them into an angry tizzy as the servant scampered ahead and opened the shōji, quickly closing it again and falling in behind Sesshōmaru. He sensed the females hurrying in a particular direction, and smirked.
His wandering led him to the storerooms. Servants bustled around this part of the o-shiro, in part for supplies but mostly because their living quarters were located nearby. Deep and respectful bows rippled through their numbers as he made the familiar journey.
"Are you here for another?" an elderly female servant asked merrily, approaching him.
"A complete outfit this time," he stated. Without preamble or questions, the elder nodded and walked alongside him as they moved toward a particular corner of the storerooms.
"Adult sized zori," the elder commented, smiling and slowly filling the arms of a servant she had called into the room along with them. "Your ward is a young lady now I imagine? Yes, yes, and she will require tabi, and– oh, really, this lovely obi just goes to waste in this room. This kimono matches very nicely with the obi," she set the kimono and its complimentary set of nagajuban and hadajuban in the arms of a servant, "and of course we will need the proper hair accessories," which she pulled from the back of the drawer the kimono was stored in, everything contained in a small, firm bottomed silk drawstring purse, and plopped on top of the kimono and obi. "Box those up, dear," she ordered the servant, who hurried to the other side of the small room and began doing just that. The elder set her gaze on Sesshōmaru, a knowing smile on her face. "You have not limited me this time."
Normally, he wanted just the kimono as a gift for Rin. "She has made it abundantly clear that she is of age."
"I see," her smile widened mirthfully. "You know the common opinions put upon your late sire. If you are strong enough, then you have my blessing."
He knew that he abolished the remainder of the miko's scent, and while word traveled fast among the servants it was certainly not that fast.
"You seem surprised," she commented kindly. "Do not be. It is obvious that there is someone you are attracted to. Perhaps not fully, perhaps you do not even realize it yet." Her gaze slid to the kimono as it was gently set into the box. "But you are. You may deny it, but you are. I can feel it in these old bones, and I can see when you think of her. That kimono will flatter her nicely, will it not?"
If her words were not unnerving enough, the last statement she made certainly was; it matched his thoughts exactly. Angry, only partially with the elder, mostly with himself, he looked away at some corner of the room, glaring.
"I will take that as a 'yes'," she stated through a small chuckle, receiving the box from the servant, who bowed to her as a superior before doing so to Sesshōmaru, then leaving. The elder rubbed her clawed hand over the wood, smiling. "Cherish it. We all get only one opportunity in life."
Thoroughly disturbed, he took the proffered box and watched as she bowed and then left the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Thinking, he also fingered the lid of the box. It would be mandatory to have this upon revealing the miko, but, he wondered, did he want to give it to her?
"This is not a gift to a lover," he told himself sternly. "It means nothing." He left the servants quarters with the box in hand. It did not take long for a frantic messenger to spot him and come running.
"Sesshōmaru-Denka, your mother will see you immediately."
Kagome was more steamed than the hot spring could ever hope to be, even if it had been boiling. The nerve of that guy, playing with her like that. The nerve of him allowing her to enjoy attentions like that! The nerve of him for doing what was clearly necessary and remaining predictably unfazed by everything!
She dunked her head underwater and screamed, infuriated with him and with herself in a viciously self-feeding cycle. She surfaced with a gasp, and angrily clenched her knees under the water, hating the man in a fury so silent that she could almost hear her clothing drying in the midday sun. Wanting to destroy something, she reached over and took another piece of rabbit jerky, ripping it to pieces as she devoured the meat. She would have to forage, her stomach a little sick of rabbit, but in the meantime it provided fodder to chew on. "GAAAAH! I hate you, Sesshōmaru! I hope something bad happens to you, I really, really do!" She seized three more pieces of jerky.
"What is the kimono for?"
Sesshōmaru's mother was not prone to theatrics, or emotions in general. And so she sat, sipped her tea, and regarded him with an enviable amount of calm.
"I need not explain myself," he stated, conveniently already peeved.
His mother narrowed her eyes, then sat up straighter, the traditional expression back. "Is it for your human ward? The female?"
After a moment of studying her, he nodded.
"The child I revived, or a new one?"
He furrowed his brow, playing innocence. She was having none of it, and he did not blame her.
"Bring her here."
"Bring who?" he inquired, enjoying this game.
"The female whose scent you bore here. You have two days, Sesshōmaru, to produce this female you have burdened us with." Disgusted, she flicked her hand at him dismissively, looking away. It was difficult not to smirk as he prepared to leave.
"Sesshōmaru."
His turning had him facing Meiling, who appeared remarkably at ease with the three irked females competing for his attention standing behind her. Calm, appearing almost in a bliss, she walked over, took his free arm into hers, and fell in at his side, walking him out of the room.
"I was not going to comment on the scent," she stated once they were clear of the small audience. "I do not mind this little indulgence of yours, so long as it gives you a small taste of what I can offer. A taste you will sample soon."
"I am leaving soon," he stated.
"And you are welcome to," she pulled him down a corridor, in the opposite direction he wished to go. The rōka she led him down went directly to his chambers. "After you please me. And retrieve your armor and weapons, of course."
"I am not in the mood," he stated, not looking forward to the rest of the day as her grip tightened on his arm.
"That does not matter," she informed, almost happily. "You will get me into heat, Sesshōmaru, and you will do your best to accomplish that goal today. I will tolerate no less from you."
Begrudging his cultural upbringing, he followed where she led. It was going to be a very long day.
Kagome foraged close to the hot spring, her clothing freshly rotated to dry in the sun. In the meantime, she had no issues with her nudity, save for when a stick scraped her leg and left a trail of white skin flakes. Besides, she could use a tan where her body never really saw the light of day.
Spotting a familiar plant, she snapped off a decent sized tree branch and began to dig with it. Sweet potatoes were a delicacy in Kaede's Village, so finding one out here was a real treat.
"I'll eat you later," she told it, brushing off dirt. Any edible berries she found were eaten on the spot, and slowly she gathered small vegetables and herbs. Upon arriving back at camp she checked her clothing, turning it to expose damp corners and folds before striking out to set up a cook fire.
"I need fire..."
Exasperated, she looked around. The terrain did not seem hospitable for flint-stone.
"I hate doing this," she grumbled quite a bit later, braiding conditioned bark strips together. A variety of wood awaited for the next step, including a board-like chunk of dry bark, a fairly straight stick sharpened to a point on one end with her 'knife', a freshly taken tree branch capable of bending, and another piece of bark with thick moss on one side. Tying off her 'rope', she began notching into the fresh branch grooves for the rope to settle into on both ends of the stick. She left it a little loose, then picked up the pointed stick and twisted the rope around it once. Mossy bark got placed on the ground, her board with a notch cut out of one side balanced on some small stones over the moss, and with a flat river stone in her palm she inserted the point of her stick into the notch, held the top of the stick in place with the flat stone in her hand, and slowly pulled the bow toward her, making the stick rotate.
Five failed attempts later, she decided to use a curved bit of bark in her palm instead, the stone being far too smooth even though its added weight was helpful. After a solid five minutes of sawing the stick in its notch she finally saw a thin tendril of smoke creep out from between the wood contact. Keeping a steady pace and pressure, she eventually spotted a decent sized ember fall from the bark board and onto the moss, where it remained glowing and bright. Stubborn, she continued until another ember joined the first, then carried the small embers over to her ready fire, blowing slowly to keep them hot. After introducing them to a pinch of tinder, she transferred the flame to the fire, and found herself to be quite pleased. A thin slate rock later, and she was cutting up ingredients to fry over the fire, her sweet potato cooking in the heat of a safe hole she dug out under the fire. Adding wood, she ventured to a thin mountain stream she had crossed while scavenging. It was only about six feet wide, but the river bottom cut down deep, populated with small boulders. It was in this stream that she had left some meat to saturate. When she reached for it, intent on her goal, something flashed away in imitation of her hand.
"A fish!" Grinning madly, she waited, and watched as it testily swam back, biting at the meat. It was decently sized, a good ten inches from fin to mouth. Carefully, she sat up, and slowly dipped her toes into the chilly water, on the other side of the fish. It swam away once, and she took that time to stand, one foot on a mini boulder and the other on the shore. Like a bug to light, it came back, exploring her leg before continuing with the rabbit. With her foot numb in mountain water, she slowly dipped in her fingers, reaching down, curving them under the belly of the fish. As it bit again at the fraying meat she yanked up and toward the shore. Dinner went thrashing through the air, landing with a sound 'splat' and flopping around. She allowed it its final moments while gathering her rabbit, then picked the fish up by the gill and happily walked back for damp, its slimy body still flicking with spite and dripping wet. In terms of food, her day was only getting better and better.
She ate well for lunch, rabbit with onion and two complimentary herbs. As the sun descended passed five o'clock she put on her wrap-styled susoyake skirt and hadajuban, the latter which ended at her waist where the skirt began. The thicker fabric of the exterior of her outfit had an hour or so to go before fully drying. Her fish cooked on the slate rock with berry juice squeezed on top, cooking slowly and nicely. So far, she was having a very good day.
The clearing smelled faintly of lingering impending doom and despair when Sesshōmaru arrived, and the miko was checking on some fish she was somehow cooking. She turned around, looking at him, then glared and got back to her work, sniffing with disdain.
Setting the box aside, he glanced around her new little camp. She had made a fire tool, and had washed her clothes, the outer layer of which was still drying in the sun. Curious, he examined the clothing she wore, intrigued by the wedge of skin at her back which was exposed whenever she leaned forward to check on something cooking amidst the coals. After a moment she glanced back, and appeared thoroughly displeased while sitting up straight, tugging down the back of her shirt.
"It is rude to stare."
"Most would consider it a compliment." He had been forced to 'compliment' Meiling for quite some time that day, and was in no mood to entertain this virgin's pride. In fact, being in only the first layer of her attire should have humiliated her, because the fabric was far too thin for his eyes, and with the way the fabric clung to the curves of her body-
"What is in the box?"
He very nearly threw the box at her, half desperate for her to cover herself properly. Instead he picked it up, walked it over, and handed it to her. "Consider this a gift."
Her simmering anger faltered as she glanced between the box and him. Setting it down, she slid the lid out of its securing grooves, and gasped. "Oh...!" She picked up the kimono, keeping it folded, fingering the silk and the stitched herons on the sleeve. Sesshōmaru was genuinely surprised when she turned a brilliant smile on him. "Can I wear it?"
"In the future," he replied, feeling a misplaced sense of achievement over making her happy.
She whined anxiously, looking at the kimono again. Big blue eyes looked up, pleading. "Please? I have never worn something so nice. I will not get it dirty, I promise!" The longer he remained silent, the more fascinating her behavior became. Soon she was bouncing where she knelt on her heels, grinning hopefully.
"Be patient," he ordered mildly. She deflated, and tucked the kimono away. When she slid the lid shut she flinched, then scurried quickly over to her meal.
"Oh, no, my fish is overcooking!"
Sesshōmaru spoke about the females she would encounter in the future while she ate, picking at the meat with her fingers after moving the rock from over the coals. Her questions were few, and she nodded with comprehension most of the time, which was pleasing. As she ate, she used a stick to pull a fat root out of the fire, rolling it away and leaving it to cool.
"I think I can handle them," she stated honestly, picking up the fish skin and tossing it onto the fire before rolling the root onto her flat stone. She cut it in half with his improvised knife, then into quarters. "Probably not in battle too well, maybe, but I will work around their instincts. They are a little different from a human's, but I understand their jealousy and territorial nature." Steam rose from the root as she cut it into eighths, and she flapped her hand in the air when it got too hot. "Women are like that, too. If I saw a hussy going after my man I would probably chase her out of town with the ugly end of a thick stick." She set the sharp stone aside, frowning. "Actually, women may be worse than your females."
He frowned, thoroughly unconvinced.
She glanced at him, and grinned, picking up a piece of the root and blowing on it as though that would actually cool it down more quickly. She nibbled the exterior as it chilled. "Think about it. Women do look around for a time to find a partner, a mate, and when they find him they keep him. There is no sharing, and if the man wants another woman he must first give up the one he has."
"Humans are monogamous?"
"Eh... Sort of," she replied, taking a full bite and regretting it, breathing air quickly in and out of her mouth to try and cool it. When she could comfortably chew on her cooked root, she tilted her head down to speak, keeping him from seeing her food as she ate. "That depends on the culture. Some are polygamous for a variety of reasons, but I feel sorry for those women."
"Why?"
She glanced at him, then away, swallowing. "How would you feel being one of many males mated to one female? Well, that may work out better, considering a certain male handicap in terms of- never mind, what I am trying to point out is that the love would have to be shared, attention divided, signs of affection spread out, it is just horrible."
"You would get a male," Sesshōmaru summarized, attempting to wrap his mind around what she was saying. One female for many males? In his species, no male would stand for it. "And then expect to keep him by plaguing him with attention and expecting him to dote on you at every given opportunity?"
She slanted an exasperated expression his way. "No. They would go crazy under those circumstances." He completely agreed. "But I would want to know that he is mine, and that I am his. I would want to be able to trust him completely, and to know that he cherishes me, even if he does not express it openly on a daily basis. I would want him to acknowledge me as someone he wants to be with, and for him to value me above all other women. In return for him being my one and only, my perfect choice, my cherished love, I would want him to desire only me, and to respect my love by loving only me." She glanced at him, then laughed under her breath, taking another bite of root. "You probably do not understand that."
"The facts are comprehensible."
"You would not settle for one female," she stated with a certainty, without hesitation, swallowing. "Not when you have a clear right to more. Apparently, after you are mated you will have more throwing themselves at you." She chewed, and remorsefully shook her head, taking another bite.
"Females do not always desire to mate," he stated. "They must first enter their heat, at which point they will not allow their males any sense of privacy."
The miko scoffed, smiling. "Funny. Women can always get pregnant. Maybe that is a reason why we are monogamous."
Always? It was no wonder then why they were so prolific. Sesshōmaru knew that any yōkai male would take interest in his mate when she came into heat, an interest which grew as her heat deepened until it was almost maddening, but to always be in heat?
"You look as though I just proved that the world is square," Kagome commented, watching him. She laughed when he neutralized his expression. "So, tell me about Meiling. What is so horrifying about her that you do not wish to mate her?"
"For starters, she raped me before allowing me to leave." Clearing his throat, he described the female in question, her family history, physical appearance, strengths and weaknesses. As he continued though the miko's expression grew solemn, then a little dark.
"She sounds absolutely perfect for you," the miko stated, actually appearing peeved. "Perfect family history, not too dominant but not weak, pretty, smart, capable, loving... What the hell, Sesshōmaru?"
"We are not compatible," he stated flatly. He had not expected her to choose a side in this.
"Well, then it is your own damned fault," the girl asserted, frowning as she ate some more. "I can not compete against her in terms of suitability, and you know it."
"That will not matter."
"It will when I wind up dead," she stated. Then a thought visibly crossed her face. "Huh. Actually, it probably will not, considering your lack of emotions and my inability to feel anything when dead." She cast an evil look at him, full of ill intent. "If I die because of you, I swear that my ghost will haunt you for centuries."
He smirked. "I may enjoy the company, seeing as I will be left out of options if you die."
She stared, then looked away, grumbling something about 'flattering' and 'creepy' as she devoured the remainder of her food. When she finished, she walked over to her miko garb and got dressed, sparing him at last. "Well, teach me some mannerisms."
Several mistakes were made, but overall she took impressively fast to the behaviors. Her bow required small changes, and when he commented that she smiled too much she kept a perfectly flat expression for the remainder of the lesson. When he tried to describe how she would need to walk in a kimono her scent spiked with displeasure, but she practiced, expression remaining perfectly neutral.
The sun began to set, and he grew bored with her exercises, watching her shuffle around the clearing in circles with the restricted steps she would have to use. She stopped in her designated spot, and knelt down, settled into seiza with her feet tucked neatly under her bottom, then stood back up, all done quite elegantly and not with any show of effort or awkwardness. Then she continued her circles.
"That is enough for tonight," he stated in a dull tone.
"Finally!" His eyes widened when she flung out of formality and quite literally collapsed onto the ground, sprawled out and facing the sky. "Oh, kami, I will have to do that every day?" She sobbed for emphasis, and propped up onto her elbows, staring at him with incredulity. "Mannerisms are stupid! They really are!"
"Do not fall apart in such a fashion in public," he warned, smirking.
"Uuuugh...!" She flopped onto her back once again, laying spread out. "My feet are murdering me. How can anyone shuffle around like that all the time?"
"You will have access to tabi and smoother surfaces."
"Hm." Her foot twitched to a silent tune. "That may help." A smile split her face, and she got back onto her elbows, crossing her legs. "I did not make a single, kiss-causing accident all night. Are you not proud of me, Sesshōmaru-sama?"
"Hm." He was. "You will not have to give me an honorific at the o-shiro."
"Really?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"You will be my lover. As such, a certain amount of familiarity is to be expected. You will acknowledge my status by other means."
She hummed, bobbing her foot again while staring at the darkening sky. "So how frequently will we actually have to put on a show?"
"That will depend."
Her foot twitched faster. "I hope it is infrequent. It would be much easier to simply speak and walk around with you."
"Hm. When we walk together," he explained while on the subject, "you will need to show affection every so often. Take hold of my arm while we walk, or any small act to show attraction."
"I figured," she replied, clutching an invisible something out of the air and pulling it close, nuzzling it. "Oh, my love, how I long to be alone with you again. I miss your strong arms around me!" That sent her into a fit of laughter. From his experience, with the sarcasm taken away it was an acceptable statement. "Oh, my, this could prove to be amusing. When do we go to the o-shiro?"
"In two days."
She shot upright, horrified. "Two days? That's it? I-!" He got up, and she balked. "Aw, shit... I was so close, too!" Thoughts of Meiling trickled in as he took the miko's chin, the act all but habit after having it done to him so many times for such occasions, and she flinched. His descending mouth met with air as she pulled away.
"Miko..."
"I- I do not want to." She sulked bitterly, a faint blush lighting her cheeks.
"You must grow accustomed to this."
"Perhaps another day."
The sentence slapped him in the ego. It was the same one he used to deny the three females his attentions earlier that day. She was rejecting him, but she needed to pretend to be his lover. She needed to accept him as her alpha, and to relish in any attentions he chose to show her, not challenge him. Her flat out refusal of him grated at his instincts. Taking her by the back of her neck, he asserted himself in forcing her to face him. She struggled.
"I said 'no'!"
"That is not an option."
"Yes it is!" she bit out, pushing at his chest when he pulled her closer. As a precaution he sealed her from her ki, which would not be noticed until she attempted to manipulate it. She writhed in his arms, grunting and smacking his torso while repeating herself.
"You forget your place, miko," he informed, not enjoying her behavior in the least. "If you-"
Without warning she spat, her saliva hitting him in the face. He froze, appalled, and easily restrained her continued squirming. Taking her sleeve into hand, he used it to wipe her offense away, and took his time while desperately trying to reign in his anger. He failed.
The miko yelped as her face met the dirt, her arms and legs being pinned, "If you merely submit," he continued testily, "then the exchange will be brief."
Shock washed over her. Then oddly enough, he sensed it dissipate. "Alright."
He mentally faltered. The miko appeared calm, in control of herself. She did not struggle against him, nor did she seek to change the position he deemed appropriate for her. There was a distant look to her expression though, in the human he was treating as a yokai. "What am I doing?" The question had him releasing her as though she burned to the touch.
Slowly, she picked herself up, sitting perfectly still in seiza. She looked toward him, dirt clinging to her cheek. "I will name my price now for my services in guaranteeing that you will not be mated."
… He nodded.
"Financial support for Kaede's Village when it is needed," she began in a state of surreal calm, "and monitoring of the city of Edo. Rename Edo to Tokyo, and label it as the capital of Japan. Make sure these thing happen over the next handful of centuries."
Edo was a medium sized village, a day's journey from hers but with better access to the trade route. "I do not hold any sway over Edo."
"Does it look like I care?" she inquired. "You have just under four hundred years as far as I am concerned. Either make it part of your terrain, or strike a bargain with the lord, or do something else. Promise me you will make sure these things happen, and I will submit. I will act perfectly and professionally, and I will make sure that you get what it is you desire. This would not permit you to have your way with me, or to disrespect me. We both have roles to play, and this is the first – and last – time I officially agree to go through with this asinine canine crap, understand?"
Professional. By his definition, that meant she would remove unneeded emotions from their interactions and simply do her job. No more spasmodic fits, no more hesitation, no more reckless anger, no more shyness... This was perfect, he should have been thrilled. Seeing her though, in the state he put her in, it was odd to feel a part of him regret her words.
Emotional hangups and confusion were not something he delighted in. This was good, merely... unexpected. Resolute, he nodded. "I agree to these terms."
A brief nod on her part, and she was walking around the small camp, busying herself with cleaning and sorting. As she worked, he explained the need to keep their scents mingled, saying they would sleep together again that night. She merely bobbed her head again. The silence he should have relished in was beginning to... not annoy him; he could not put an appropriate word to the small ache in his chest. Loss? That was not it, and an absurd idea to begin with. Her fiery spirits and equally flaming temper were a hassle when not directed at an appropriate target – mainly being anyone but him – and nothing more. Perhaps it was a form of confusion? Nothing was amiss or befuddling, save for the mood she was in, which was a little... disturbing.
The miko finished with her things, glancing around camp to be sure of it. The sun was well past the horizon, the sky a deep blue overhead as the rich colors of sunset chased their source across the land. The girl approached him and stopped four feet away from where he sat, regarding him with a flat expression.
"I will retire now. Feel free to join me when you feel like it." And that was all before she went and curled up near the freshly restocked fire.
Professional, he decided, did not have to be boring. "Miko."
A head of raven black hair lifted, looking over at him. "Yes?"
Fire danced hypnotically over her navy blue eyes. What was it he wanted to say?
"Yes, Sesshōmaru-sama?"
He glanced away, uncertain of his thoughts. "Do not be in a bad mood for long."
Out of his periphery he saw her stare at him a moment. Then she merely lay back down to go to sleep, making a small clicking noise for some reason.
"Do not be in a bad mood for long." His words were unexpected, which had her worry slightly, creating an annoying little ache in her chest. She hated worrying, especially over something she had thought to have figured out. By all means, he should not have said that. He should not have felt a need to say it. She had agreed to go along with things, and while she was in a bad mood over the new outlook on their arrangements it did not mean that he should have cared about her feelings.
"Damned confusing hound," she cursed in her head, clicking her thumbnail around her front upper teeth as she thought. Two days... That was not a very long time, and it left her as nervous as any final exam did. More so, actually. This exam not only played with her life, but it could also last for-
She blinked, then frowned in anger at the ember speckled logs. This could last a long time, and she never even bothered to ask yet. What was wrong with her?
"Hey, Se-" She had begun to prop herself up on an elbow again, but faltered when he was not where he had been sitting, and when his hand started slipping over her hip and toward her abdomen. Shock shot through her, and again when he pulled her closer. His armor was gone – which was impressive since she had not heard a thing – and her back was pulled against firm, warm... male.
"Yes?"
His strong voice was so close it sent goosebumps marching down her entire side. "Stop getting flustered, woman!" Doing her best to quell emotions, to ignore his strong arm tightening around her, his breath losing itself in her hair, she swallowed and resumed her question. "How long will this take?"
"As long as is necessary."
Mentally pinching herself, trying to find inner peace through all the superficial turmoil he put her through, she pressed. "How long could this take?"
Moments hung in the air, and she used the silence to calm herself. This guy was an asshole, nothing to get excited over. "Perhaps a month."
"A month..." She closed her eyes. "What a worthwhile waste of my life... At least I made the demands I did." As crude as he seemed, she did not think of him as the sort to back out on a promise, which reassured her. Uncomfortable, she shifted against him, trying to figure out how to tuck her arm under her head in a way that would not make it go numb, and not punch him in the face with the action; although that was very tempting.
Warm fingers tucked under her chin, sliding under her face across her cheek and a little into her hair. She stared at matching stripes as her head was lifted, then lowered onto something... nice. When his hand moved away, fitting around her middle again, she realized that she was laying on his arm.
"Professional." She settled with little movement. "Thank you."
"Hm."
Chewing her lower lip, she ventured a curiosity. "Will this be a nightly routine?"
"Yes."
"Okay." She curled slightly, making herself smaller. A month. How was she going to pull this off? A day would be too short, a week was manageable, but a month? Perhaps? Maybe it would last for two months, or four, or longer, and just one month was too long. She had no idea how stubborn his betrothed would be, or his mother, or anyone with any influence on his life. If she could just march in there and bypass all customs, just say one thing and get it all over with, she would.
"Sesshōmaru?"
"Yes?"
With only two days to practice, she wanted to be prepared for anything. She wanted to get any hesitation shocked out of her system as opposed to doing her best to suppress it, which she promised to do. A particular request hung heavily onto the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it down, leaving a weight in her stomach. She could not bring herself to speak it with him wrapped around her like that. She would ask tomorrow.
"Never mind." She did her best to fall asleep. It was much easier when his fur flipped around, nestling against her front and keeping her warm. Later on, at the cusp of sleep, she snuggled into it, only a quarter conscious, and hearing a low, pleased growl.
Some obnoxiously loud birds roused Kagome. She had awakened several times that night, thanks to knowing for a fact that he was near and not liking the idea. Wondering if she would see a different color to the sky this time, she slit open one eye. Apparently she had turned onto her back sometime that night, but other than that the only difference was that the fire had completely died. The birds and their activities suggested the coming of day though.
Tired, she wanted to go back to sleep. Worried about the day after this day though, she forced her heavy eyelids to obey her will. They did, at a price. Her curious gaze slid over to Sesshōmaru, who was still laying on his side, his fur bunched under his head and hiding half of his face in fluff. He looked at peace. Relaxed.
Her damned rebellious heart fluttered, and she looked away. The male certainly got her more wakeful, but the side of uncomfortable was not welcomed. So she got up, and slid from his loose grasp to sit nearby, brushing fingers through her hair. He was such a guard dog, always alert, that she doubted he was asleep, even when she had looked at him let alone after she got up. "I would like to go into the hot spring."
He shifted. "You bathed yesterday."
"I know." She combed her fingers through her hair. "I simply assume that you would wish me to smell as clean as I can before we practice anything today. Besides, I am out of rabbit meat."
A weary sigh did not escape her hearing, and he sat up, lifting a knee. "The least you could do is to ask me to hunt for you, not simply imply or expect it."
"My apologies," she said through a yawn at the back of her free hand. It really was presumptuous of her, but she really did not enjoy asking him for favors. "Would you please hunt for me this morning?"
"Hm." He did not sound happy, but she did not expect him to in the first place. Without preamble he got to his feet and walked off, taking his time.
"Please do not look back!" she called after him, hopping to her feet and jogging the short distance to the spring, stripping. The water was the same temperature as yesterday, and she thoroughly enjoyed melting into the warmth after the initial, stinging heat. After a time she picked up a semi-smooth rock nearby and cleaned it off, then scrubbed it against her skin. It was no loofah, but it served its purpose. She scrubbed herself pink in a hurry, then ran her fingers vigorously through her scalp underwater. She dried off with her hakama, and hung it to dry while dressing into her under layers and hakui.
Breakfast was simple, the eating of it brief, and everything was continuously interrupted by Sesshōmaru lecturing her about the finer points of lover behavior. He recapped that she would have to touch him periodically, willingly, and not be deterred if he brushed her off, and to not take other females and their possible threats seriously.
"I am going to become a home wrecker."
Sesshōmaru looked at her funny. "A what?"
"A home wrecker." She shifted where she sat, thinking on an explanation. "A woman who interrupts the lives of members in a family by going after a man in it."
"'Lover' is a better term."
She huffed a chuckle, smiling slightly. A brief glance revealed him smirking at her. "What?" Immediately his expression shifted back to neutral, which had her chuckling again. "I know I will not enjoy it, but would you mind giving me a thorough taste of what to expect at the o-shiro? In terms of what you will do as shows of intimacy. I just do not want to be-" The now almost familiar feel of his hand cupping of her face had her pausing as her gaze fixed to his. "Surprised?"
"On one condition," he stated, leaning in close. "Act as a lover."
Blinking, jerking her mind out of the gutter, she nodded against his palm. He continued to stare at her, not making a move. "Boy, I am really moving ahead in the world of experience..." Offering a sly smile, she cupped his face in turn with one hand, and with her last two fingers hooked slightly around the bend of his jaw she drew him down onto her lips, humming at the contact. She slid her upraised hand down his neck and back into his hair, and parted her lips slightly, offering to deepen the kiss. Her eyes snapped open when he accepted the invitation with impressive enthusiasm, pressing into her while holding her in place. Thanking herself for not waiting until they had an audience, she pressed on, sliding her hand onto his shoulder for support and lifting her second hand up from behind her to work itself into his hair, his continued attentions having her leaning further and further back. His hair was slipping past her cheek moments before she felt herself being settled onto her back.
"Sesshōmaru?" she gasped, breathless. Their activities were not entirely devoid of pleasure, and her heart was racing, body thrilled. A low, dominating growl was her answer as he moved to her neck. He was not doing much. She could handle this. Besides, inuyōkai could be forceful lovers for all she knew. The rational part of her mind stated that the ground served as good 'against the wall' practice. "I can act through this." She tilted her face away from him, exposing her vulnerable neck. His teeth scraped her skin lightly, and she turned her gasp into a groan. His hand slid down her side, and she stroked his chest, her free hand mimicking his and slowly sliding to hold his waist. His body pressed down onto her, the weight sending a thrill through her, one which was all too familiar after these last two days with him. Compared to her, she decided that he was having far too much fun. Turning her head toward his, she took his ear gently between her teeth, exhaling lightly through her nose. That alluring growl came back, and her breast was cupped through her clothing, and squeezed slightly.
She released his ear, shifting under him. "I-is that necessary?"
"Entirely," he replied against her neck, his voice sounding lower, richer.
"And he calls out my species as being-" her mind froze when he ground his pelvis against hers, igniting the nerves around her middle and groin, making her body scream for more. "Was that necessary?"
"It happens. Do not talk."
Do not talk? Worry sent a twinge through her, but she forced her eyes closed, forced her concerns aside as he groped her. She could endure this. Strictly speaking, she was designed to. Such attentions were natural between lovers, but in public? "Think of high school, Kagome. Just think of high school and lockers and under the staircases and-" A unique pain began in her neck, and she realized he was giving her a hickey. "HIGH SCHOOL!" She hoped that the uncomfortable moan she gave would pass for pleasure. Getting over herself, she got back into her role. She was supposed to be able to act like his lover, not one of the girls who gawked at the high school students who pressed one another into private corners. She needed to be the flirtatious girl with sensual vibes and desires. Slipping a hand around him, onto his broad, deliciously firm back, she pulled him down forcefully against her and lifted a knee, rubbing her leg against his thigh and hip. Four brilliant pinpricks of pain pierced her neck as he bit her, the remainder of his teeth pressing firmly against her skin. It was, all things considered, a gentle bite, but it still hurt a whole bloody lot where he made her bleed. "Lover's bite. I'll get him back." Deciding on immediate revenge as the side of her neck throbbed, she slid her hand down onto his rump, pulling his pelvis against hers as she pressed up into him, groaning. She hoped he got an unsatisfiable boner for biting her like that.
The rumbling he made echoed in her chest, and she looked at him as he pulled away to stare down at her. "Oh, the kami guard and protect me...!" He had a distant look in his eyes. A hungry look. "Sesshōmaru? Is that necessary?"
His hand knotted in her hair, and she found herself gasping into his mouth, groaning as he bore down on her. His tongue went past her lips as his free hand got to examining her thus far untouched breast. It hurt as he squeezed the fatty tissue, and she learned how halfhearted his previous thrusts were when he pushed himself forcefully against her, making the small of her back arch up into him as she mewled into his mouth. This was getting far too intimate, no matter the species.
Twisting her face away from his, their shared saliva streaking across her cheek, she finally called an end to this. "Sesshōmaru, stop!" He nibbled her ear, the one he had already put a hole into. "STOP!"
He did, in a manner of speaking. His attentions ceased, but he did not move. Breathing heavily beneath him, shaking slightly, she waited, wondering what would happen, reigning in her emotions as best she could. She had done well, she thought, it being her first time and all, but even a virgin knew when things were going too far, and they definitely had been. For precaution she reached for her ki, and found herself blocked. It had her whimpering slightly, drawing her lower lip between her teeth, feeling at the crushed and puffy tissue and remembering some very forceful kissing.
"Are you hurt?"
She looked up at him as he pulled away, braced over her, and marveled at the alarm scribbled plainly across his face. He turned her head slightly to the other side, examining where he bit her, and once again bent down to her neck. She winced as he licked the little punctures, his tongue pulling at the skin with every pass. When that uncomfortable part was finished and he was up on hands and knees again, he tugged at the collar of her clothing.
"I can check for bruises elsewhere myself," she assured, tugging the collar back to center.
His expressions were so ridiculously easy to read as he got off from over her, sitting down heavily nearby. He looked to be in awe, and to have regret. "I apologize." She faltered in propping herself up, staring at him. "That has..." he frowned, looking absolutely bewildered, "never happened before..."
"You just got carried away," she tried to reassure, wondering if her groin was going to be sore or even bruised. Her breasts would definitely swell a bit from the rough handling. "It happens, even with humans."
"Hm." He grew a little more solemn. "I am not inexperienced, miko. I have laid with a female many times before, but that..." he trailed off, quite possibly assessing what exactly it was he had done. "I apologize."
"It is fine," she reassured nervously, pulling her hair over one shoulder to spare the bite and gripping it with both hands, allowing them to take turns in running down its length. "You just got carried away. It is normal."
"It is not," he stated, looking over at her with an assessing frown. It was odd how much more affected he was by this than she was.
Clearing her throat and thoughts, she perked up. "Well, on the bright side, there is not much more you can do to really shock me and throw the acting off."
He seemed confused by her calm. "I suppose not..."
"See? Everything happens for a reason." Dear kami, she sure hoped so.
The remainder of the day was spent reviewing and exercising yesterday's general lessons along with a handful of new ones, including when to use what titles, how to treat the servants, what her status was in relation to others, how demure she should be and to who, and how she should reply to invitations for personal time with another. He gave her the facts, and also warned that while she was entitled to her position, it did not mean that others would respect it. She would have to defend herself, her honor, and their fake relationship.
"I can not permit my lover to sleep alone," she jested when he offered to leave her be that night, slipping her arms around his waist and giving him a small hug. "I am fine. Really." Gently, he pushed her away, and she frowned up at him. "Are you okay? You have been acting funny all day." He frowned at her, but it was not the full out glare she had expected, not the one he had given her on an hourly basis before that particular incident. She pressed the back of her hand to his brow, shocking him. "Are you sick? Feverish?" He brushed her hand aside. "Because the last time I checked, any man would be thrilled to get off the hook after pulling a stunt like that. You, on the other hand, are acting like a little boy who is expecting a thorough beating for his actions, and I have half a mind to oblige if it will make you snap out of it!"
Blinking, he looked down at her as though wondering what was again clinging to his waist.
She sniffed at him, perturbed, and put her head against his chest. He had left his armor off all day, which she highly appreciated given their actions. "I am a virgin, but not a frail flower that will wither and die if handled harshly. In fact, when I find the man of my life I plan on having even more rough fun with him, so get over it."
"You misinterpret," he stated, his hand resting with an almost absentminded manner on the small of her back. "I am not troubled over your condition."
"Hm. Do inuyōkai follow instincts?"
"They are deeply ingrained in us," Sesshōmaru stated.
"And did you," she did not want to offend him, but could not think of better phrasing at the moment, "lose control this morning?"
"... I did."
His fingers twitched on her back, and she gave him a quick squeeze, trying to let him know that everything was okay between them. "Can you control it in the future?"
"Yes. It will not happen again."
It sounded a little like he was giving himself an order. Regardless, she nodded against the rich silk of his clothing. "Well, I am going to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow."
He nodded, and she smiled after leaning back, patting his chest before walking off. She fell asleep by herself, but woke up later that night with an arm draped around her waist, and slipped back into slumber with a smile on her face.
A/N: Sorry it's taking so long to update these! I just got hammered against an anvil in terms of work load, but hopefully that will not happen too often. At least this update was twenty-three pages. ^_^ Is that too long?
Hope you enjoyed reading, please review!