"Hey Kat! Katana!"
She walked over to her friends, smiling happily.
"Where's Silver?"
She slid onto a stool next to Kelly, who was sipping a deep red drink out of a tall glass. Jayme sat next to her with what looked liked an alcohol-free margarita. Paiton wasn't drinking anything.
"He's over at Donovan's side," Kelly said, talking about the other barkeeper, "said he needed a drink, right guys?"
They nodded and looked away.
"What's up?" Katana reached for the drink Al was handing her and sipped it cautiously. She didn't want a repeat of earlier, "did I miss something?"
"Nope," Jayme swallowed the rest of her drink and slid her glass down the counter. Al filled it and it came skating back, "You were right in the middle of it."
"Sesshomaru's here somewhere," Paiton said calmly, "We thought he saw you and Silver."
"Oh…" Katana shrugged and they all looked around, "I didn't think he was still here."
"You saw him?" Paiton pouted, "Aww, I wanted to surprise you."
"I didn't see him, but I felt him here."
"Wow, talk about bad timing." Kelly continued to sip her drink casually, tossing her hair every once in awhile towards the hot bouncer in the corner. He winked at her.
"Well, I have to go see him," Katana finished her drink and got up, "give Silver my number, okay?"
"I will!" Paiton said happily. They all looked at her and she sulked.
"I'll do it," Kelly said, getting up, "we all know Pai couldn't remember his name, let alone what to tell him."
And with that, Kelly slipped into the crowd and headed toward the other bar, making a short detour at the corner to flirt with the bouncer. Katana said goodnight to them all and grabbed her sheathes off the stool. The back door opened automatically and she slipped out, unnoticed.
The streets were empty, the only sound was that of her engine and she rode home. She didn't know what she was going to say to him, or how to explain that she didn't care for Silver at all. She had just wanted to show someone what it was that she was feeling, and he had been right there. She didn't think Sesshomaru would be mad at her, but it could be worse than that. He might regret coming.
Katana rode faster, only a block away from her house. The neighboring homes were vacant and dark, and as hers came into view, she was surprised to see a light on. Hadn't they turned them all off?
She parked in front of the porch and walked up the steps. The door was open.
Silently, she pulled out her sword and stepped in. Nothing seemed out of place at first glance, and it didn't look anything like a break in. She relaxed a little and walked upstairs. Her door was closed and locked, like she'd left it. She started to take out her key when she hard a creak in the next room. Sean's room.
Katana moved on tiptoe towards his door, armed and ready. She pushed it and it swung open silently. She sighed.
"Sean!"
He jumped a foot in the air and fell to the floor.
"What did I do now?" he asked, sitting up cautiously. He sat on the floor with his hands on his knees. A position of innocence.
"Cut it out, I thought someone else was here."
"So, what, you were gonna kill me?"
"I was going to save you…" she mumbled to herself. Who knows what might have happened if he had gotten into her room.
"What?" he got up and went stiffly back to fixing his bed.
"What are you doing here?" she asked harshly, "They said you'd be gone all weekend."
"I was, till I heard about the biker rave tonight." He tugged the side of his blanket and sat down, "figured you'd be out all night. Again."
"Stop spying on me," she said quickly, "and stay out of my room, unless you want to have a very slow and painful death."
Sean laughed, then saw the look on her face.
"You're serious?"
Instead of answering, Katana walked out and pulled out the key to her room. She unlocked it and slid in, closing the door behind her. Sesshomaru was sitting on the open windowsill, letting the wind blow over his bare chest. He didn't look up when she came in.
She walked to her closet and removed the pads on her waist, changing into one of her favorite nightgowns. It looked like a Japanese silk kimono. When she walked out, he hadn't moved, but he turned to face her and held out his hand. She took it, leaning against him.
"I have to tell you something," she whispered nervously.
He wrapped himself around her and waited. She took a deep breath.
"I got buzzed tonight," she said softly, "I almost kissed a guy."
He nodded patiently.
"It was an accident. I didn't mean to do anything with him, I just wanted to dance…"
"I know," he said gently.
"Then everything went…I don't know…" she paused, waiting, but he didn't say anything. She braced herself for anger, or resentment, something…
He smiled and held her closer.
"I forgive you," he whispered.
She looked up at him, and he stroked her face. She smiled.
"I want to show you something," she whispered. He nodded, sliding off of the edge of the window and standing. She backed up a little and opened her kimono timidly, revealing her black underwear and the beautifully completed double slash tattoos framing her waist.
Sesshomaru stepped closer, lifting his hand to touch them. Katana closed her eyes as he pulled her nearer, letting the gown slip softly to the floor. He traced them with his fingers, his warm hands stroking her skin. She trembled at his touch as he moved higher, wrapping his arms around her waist and sliding them against her body.
"My promise to you," she said quietly.
"Do you know what this means?" he asked, his voice soft.
She nodded, "I am yours…"
"Forever."
"I want more," she said hesitantly, "but-I wanted permission-"
"You have it."
His lips descended upon hers in a sensual kiss. Their minds touched, and joined, and she felt herself falling into him. She could feel his love for her, an overwhelming rush of emotion. It would have scared her if she did not have the same spring of love for him. It felt so…right.
Carefully, almost fearfully, Katana placed her arms around his neck. He held her gently, without breaking the kiss. His hands explored her body in ways they never had before.
'Are you afraid?' his voice was in her mind, brushing it like moth wings.
'Yes.' She answered truthfully, not daring to lie to him. Not when they were so much apart of each other.
'Don't be,' his voice blew against her, as soft as his lips on hers. He held her close, as he lifted them gently from the ground. She layed against him, floating from the room out into the night. He wrapped himself around her to shield her body against the cool air.
'Where are we going?' she thought silently. They floated over rooftops and houses, above the tops of trees, into the clouds. Sesshomaru did not look away from her as they soared higher, warming her body with his own.
'Close your eyes…'
She did, letting the feel of the wind surround her and bear her higher. Away from her window, through the billowing clouds, everything covered in warmth and beauty. They broke through the top and she felt the vapors swirl around them. They danced on the snow-white mist below them, as if nothing in the world mattered anymore.
'Look…' he whispered softly into her ear. She opened her eyes, feeling her breath catch in her throat as she did. A glowing white orb lit the night sky, full and bright. The moonlight shined over them, causing their soft trail of mist to sparkle behind in the form of a heart. It glowed bright and crimson on the opaque clouds below.
'It's beautiful…" she sighed, resting against his shoulder. He smiled softly, stroking her face and letting his fingers trace over her lips.
'Like you,' his voice wrapped around her, softer and gentler than it had ever been before. With the full moon shining above them, she felt safe and calm. Nothing in her life had ever been so perfect.
'Happy anniversary, Katana…'
