Standard disclaimers apply.

A/N: Hi everyone! I'm back with chapter seven...personally, I cannot wait to write it out, and with your reviews as encouragement, I found myself sitting in front of the laptop with my fingers itching to get started.

I appreciate the fact that some of you find the story subtly romantic so far, and notice the mutual feelings which are building up slowly and steadily. It is exactly how I wished to portray it, and nothing makes me happier than to know that is how you guys view it too. Now, love that is gained too easily might not be much appreciated, and in a conservative traditional setting, you can be sure to expect many obstacles ahead in our favorite characters' relationship.

Enjoy chapter 7!

Title: Wisteria
Chapter Seven: Heaven on Earth


Countless conversations of just about as many natures passed, but neither felt boredom in each other's company. As they approached a small clearing, Kagome could clearly hear the gentle trickling sounds and the occasional gurgle of a small, meandering stream. Delighted, she hastened her steps, only to gasp in awe when a beautifully constructed red bridge, arched over the water like a majestic crescent moon, came into sight. The bright traditional red was a stark contrast to the lush green of the pine around them, representing a tiny bit of civilization in this forgotten paradise. On the other side of the bridge, teetered firmly to a tree, was a snow white stallion.

"It's beautiful..." She whispered, as if afraid that words would shatter the tranquility.

Kagome felt free like a forest nymph, walking among the paradise she never knew, and the dreamland like setting reminded her of Disney's Sleeping Beauty, where she was Aurora, and Sesshoumaru, her prince. If only she was not confined by her heavy kimono and okobo...she could dance around freely, and run wherever she wanted with him...

It was then when Kagome realized with a jolt that in her mind's dreamlike state, she had conjured up a mental image of Sesshoumaru being her prince, living together happily in this piece of heaven on earth. That was absolutely not right, and she had to remind herself, she was a maiko and he, her client. Sometimes, the power of imagination has to be blamed. The breathtaking beauty of her surroundings had made her forget her identity, his identity and the world outside of this paradise.

Taking a steadying breath, she calmed herself down. She was thinking too much again, and lost herself in Fuji again. She was Kagome, Higurashi Kagome...not Fuji. She had to be careful not to lose herself entirely. It was tragic really, to be caught neither here nor there. She did not belong here, yet she had practically been forced into the geisha culture where she knew nothing of. She had to escape, but she did not know when she could do so.

Stepping onto the arched bridge, Kagome took small, careful steps. It was not easy walking with the elevated okobo. Sesshoumaru walked alongside her, his attentions more on the young maiko than the beautiful surroundings.

Standing at the highest point of the bridge, Kagome reached out with her hand, touching the slender pine needles above her. It was an amazing feeling, to be able to touch the leaves so directly.

"Aren't these pine needles beautiful, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome smiled at the demon lord standing behind her, looking up so that she could meet his intense eyes of gold. She closed her fingers gently around the pine needles, but it was then when a piece snapped at a certain node, leaving a short segment in her palm.

"They are beautiful indeed, but nonetheless fragile, Fuji-chan." Sesshoumaru replied, reaching out with his left arm from behind Kagome to cradle some of the pine needles in his hand. From Kagome's position, she could see his strong, solid arm by her side, and she blushed despite of herself. It felt almost like an embrace. Bashfully, she lowered her head, while she could feel Sesshoumaru chuckle soundlessly from behind her, from the warm breath stirring against her exposed nape.

He was surprised at how she could be so matured and intelligent one moment, yet so innocent at the other. He could feel himself taking a quick liking to this girl; it was not love, but more of interest. All he wanted was to talk to her more, hear more from her and simply enjoy the conversations.

Looking down at the bashful girl, he could see her breathing a little harder than usual to recover her composure, before she raised her head and said poetically, "Let us not blame the pine for its fragility, but instead," She moved the slender segment in her palm to her forefingers, before pushing it back into the node from where it was detached. The pine needle seemed as if it had never been broken before. "Praise its ability to pretend to be unaffected."

"It is still a façade, don't you think?" He questioned, shaking the branches gently, while the pine needle fell again almost effortlessly.

"But still, there is courage in concealing." Kagome replied, turning around to face him fully. The close proximity of Sesshoumaru was somewhat welcomed yet intimidating. "Sometimes, the truth is better left unknown."

Sesshoumaru smiled wistfully. "This Sesshoumaru believes it's more of how one perceives things."

"Of course, Lord Sesshoumaru...I too believe, there are two sides to everything."

"You are always presenting ironies and contrast to me, Fuji-chan." He commented, watching Kagome's face change ever so slightly. She looked...almost uncomfortable.

"Such ironies are not pretentious to you, I hope. Just like this pine needle," Kagome broke off another small segment. "The truth hurts sometimes, so a façade is actually the safer way of protecting oneself. There is kindness in the falsity."

He looked at her with a questioning and expectant look, while she sighed almost inaudibly. "I too, rest under a façade, if that is what you wish to know, Lord Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru contemplated her words, before agreeing. "As I do, Fuji-chan."

There was no other elaboration, and Kagome knew, it'd not be very wise to probe further. Sesshoumaru took a step down the bridge, while Kagome stood rooted at her exact position. She feared the steep steps of the arched bridge will be too much for her high okobo to handle.

"How forgetful of me." The demon lord said with an almost non-existent smile. Stepping back, he extended his hand, before she smiled tenderly and placed her hand in his again. He returned her smile, wrapping his fingers around her smaller hand reassuringly. The warmth from his palm seeped into her fingers, giving Kagome a sense of security. Somehow, she knew with Sesshoumaru around, she would be safe no matter what. Allowing some of her body weight to depend on him, Kagome let Sesshoumaru lead her along. Slowly, step by step, he guided her down the bridge.

As her feet came into contact with the solid ground again, Kagome bowed her thanks, before drawing her hand away slowly from his grasp. "Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru."

He felt the sudden withdrawal of her hand from his, before realization kicked in and his fingers gingerly closed around the emptiness in his fist. Lowering his fist to his side, he returned her bow with a nod. "You're welcome."

She did not know why she pulled away from him so quickly, but she knew if she held on any longer, she would not have wanted to let go. As she folded her hands together in front of her, she was already starting to miss the warmth he provided.

Walking over to the stallion, Sesshoumaru asked a slightly embarrassed Kagome, "Would you like to ride?"

Kagome was surprised to say the least. "Me? But...I..." She faltered in her sentence, looking down at her kimono. It was confining, and Kagome could only take half of her usual stride with the kimono on. Furthermore, the long, heavy obi behind her was a constant weight on her back. How could she possibly ride a horse, even if she wanted to very badly?

"You can, Fuji-chan." Sesshoumaru assured her upon seeing her hesitation. He guided the stallion towards her. "Do you trust me?"

She definitely did. Sesshoumaru was so different from Inuyasha. With Inuyasha, Kagome seemed to be always in constant peril, but Sesshoumaru exuded this overwhelming confidence which totally calmed all the fears and worries in her.

"I do, Lord Sesshoumaru."

He nodded, before stooping down slightly. His handsome face gave her another reassuring look. "Put your right arm around my shoulders."

Kagome nodded and scooted closer to him, slowly putting her arm around him, before letting out a small gasp of surprise when he lifted her almost effortlessly with his single arm, standing up to his full height and placing her onto the back of the horse gently. Her feet dangling from one side of the horse, Kagome felt a sense of relief when Sesshoumaru easily mounted the horse, sitting securely behind her.

She let out a small laugh. "I was worried for a moment that you might decide not to join me on the horse. I have no experience in riding at all." In modern Tokyo, it was hard even to see a horse, much less ride on one.

"I thought you might love to have a ride and feel the wind against your face." He said thoughtfully.

"Lord Sesshoumaru...you are spoiling me. It is my duty to entertain you, but you turned out to be the one introducing all sorts of interesting activities to me. Oka will not be too happy with me if she finds out about it." Kagome smiled reproachfully, while Sesshoumaru picked the reins of the horse up.

"You'll be entertaining me enough with simply enjoying everything I have in store for you, Fuji-chan."

She nodded obediently and decided not to go against his wishes. Whoever would have thought Sesshoumaru to be so caring and gentlemanly? It was absolutely absurd to even entertain the thought, but Kagome was now experiencing it for herself.

"Are you ready?"

Another nod from Kagome, and they were off.

Beneath her, the powerful muscles of the stallion could be felt rippling, and as the strong legs gained speed in their movement, Kagome found it increasingly difficult to remain steady. Sitting in front of Sesshoumaru and having nothing to hold on to for support, her center of gravity was definitely way too high for comfort. The ride, which had initially promised excitement, seemed almost scary now. She wished she had never even mounted the horse in the first place.

She tried to grip on to the horse's mane as tightly as she could without hurting the poor creature, and steer her body against the direction of the horse's movement in a bid to steady herself. The wind beating against her face, carrying the fresh and clean scent of pine, would have been greatly enjoyable if not for Kagome's anxiety. The muscles felt underneath her were working at an even more frantic pace now, expanding, contracting...going on for what seems like forever.

At a particularly sharp turn, Kagome lurched to the side and as a small cry escape from her; she involuntarily threw her arms around Sesshoumaru and held on tight. Her arms encircled him tightly as if he was her buoy in a choppy ocean, and Kagome had also pressed her face to his chest, slightly exposed from the open neck of his hakama. His chest was very firm, warm, and felt very masculine to the touch. If Sesshoumaru was born in her time, Kagome was sure, he could have been a model.

As the sharp turn passed and they were once again galloping on a straight path, Kagome hastily detached her face from his chiseled chest, muttering an almost inaudible apology as she drew her hands back. Sesshoumaru pulled the reins back, and the horse slowed down into a slow trot.

"What's wrong?"

Kagome tried to bow as well as she could in her sitting position, and explained, "I'm sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru. I shouldn't have...have...it was most disrespectful."

"And?"

"Eh?"

"And you expected me to be angry with you?" He asked, fixing his gaze on her. She looked breathtakingly beautiful with her slightly parted lips and eyes reflecting fear and uncertainty. It was quite intriguing to see how she could be so bold with her words, yet so bashful when physical contact is involved.

"I...I mean..."

"I am not angry at all." He said as a matter-of-factly. "In fact, I do not find it offensive in the least." Watching relief cloud those pretty eyes of hers, he slowed the horse down to an almost complete standstill, and with his hand, guided her head and gently pressed it to his chest. He held her slender arms, putting them softly around himself just like she had done earlier on.

She felt heat creeping up her neck, and silently thanked the thick maiko makeup she had on. Dropping her voice to a slight whisper, she asked uncertainly, "Is this...is this really alright?"

"Just hold on tight."

Kagome could not believe what just happened. Compared to the perilous moment earlier when she had basically flung herself at him, this was entirely different. Against the backdrop of breathtaking scenery, occasional chirping of birds and a very charming aristocratic demon lord, this was...Kagome found it hard to put into words, but she would say, it was...romantic. She had never enjoyed contact with a male so much...it was so comfortable, and it felt so right. As if she should have hugged him from the very beginning.

Snuggling up against him closer for comfort and support, Kagome felt secure. It was a sense of security which she had missed ever since she lost her father to a construction site accident years ago, and she found it again right here with Sesshoumaru. With him, she did not feel as if she had to fear any demons which might suddenly appear, nor did she have to fear being hurt in any way.

The horse once again gained speed with his expert control of the reins, but this time round, Kagome felt no fear. She held on tight, occasionally turning her head to enjoy the wind in her face, feeling unbridled as pine trees went past them in a blur of lush green and brown. Looking up at Sesshoumaru, she had to strain her voice a little so as not to be drowned out by the thudding of the hooves against the ground.

"Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru. This is unlike anything I've felt before."

He did not reply, but instead, smiled down at her.

Kagome smiled back, adjusting her head to lean against him comfortably.

If there was a piece of heaven on earth, this must be the place.


To be continued...

A/N: How did you guys like that? And thank you to all those who reviewed once again...I'm really motivated to go on in my writing, and it is all because of you. And this is not the end of their second time together...there's a part three to it, and guess what? It will be coming soon! It will not be merely a date, but also, Kagome will get to know Sesshoumaru' even better. Please review!