The day after our first kiss, I gave Sesshomaru the necklace. He told me he liked it because now he would also my scent with him. According to him, I smell a like female, mixed with rain and a sweet scent. I wondered if Sesshomaru knew how to be romantic. Now there were no more obstacles in the way. He could make me his mate any day. Everything seemed too calm. There have been no attempts on either of our lives. I thought for sure the one who cursed us would make his move. Turns out, I should've kept my mouth shut.
I was practicing with Hikari no Ken when I felt a dark aura. It was the dark miko from before!
"How cute, the little lamb is unprotected. Still haven't broken the curse I see, but instead you have a courting mark. How wonderful," she taunted.
"What are you doing here? If you're here to fight, then fight. Don't waste time talking. If I killed you I should be able to break the curse, right?"
"No. The power isn't bound to my life. You'll have to seek my master. Besides, you won't be able to kill me. I'm completely human. How will your heart feel if you killed another human?"
She used my hesitation to dash forward and grab me, placing a binding spell on me. The dark miko signalled to a tengu, in its true form. It picked me up and sped away, with me immobile in its slick talons. Once we left the palace grounds the pain from the curse started to make itself known. I groaned as I did my best to ignore it. I needed to break this binding spell, but the ever increasing pain prevented me from concentrating. I closed my eyes and tried to block everything out. So far Sesshomaru was my only hope.
At one point the pain got so intense, I nearly passed out. Instead I managed to bite my tongue. At least the spell was weakening a bit. I heard a furious growl behind us. I didn't have to turn my head to know it was Sesshomaru. Suddenly, the tengu opened its talons, leaving me to free fall when Sesshomaru attacked. I started panicking and only succeeded in breaking the binding spell. That wouldn't help me when I fell, into the lake below me. From this height, I wouldn't be able to survive. Sesshomaru! Get your furry ass over here and save me, damnit!
Thankfully, Sesshomaru caught me just before I hit the water. Unfortunately for me, he caught me in his true form. In other words, I my landing was still a wet one. Although, I would prefer this one to my would-be, watery grave.
"Sesshomaru! Can you let me out of your mouth? I'm thankful for you saving me, but to be honest it's a bit...disconcerting in here." I tried to be nice instead of saying it was disgusting being inside a giant dog's mouth.
He stopped and all but spat me onto the ground. I was definitely going to a bath when we got back. Sesshomaru looked at me and then laid down on the ground and he picked me up and placed me on his back.
"You want me to ride you?" Perhaps now would be a bad time to mention I was terrified. Actually, he could probably scent it.
He didn't give me a choice because without warning he took off, alternating between running on the ground and running through the air. Once I got over my initial fright, the ride was pretty enjoyable. Not everyone could say they rode a humongous white dog that was actually a demon, who was their mate-to-be. Also, it was a relatively smooth ride, and his fur was so soft. I could spend at least an hour just stroking it. I bet his hair would be just as soft. Surprisingly, I've yet to actually feel his hair when it's dry.
Finally we ended up back at the palace, where it took a few minutes for Sesshomaru's beast to calm enough so that he could transform back. However, even in his human form, he still seemed tense, if not more so. "Don't worry. I'm safe. We will go after them," I told him as I put my hands on his arm. Hopefully it would calm him down.
"I don't like how they got past my guards. I found them all unconscious without signs of a struggle. Our enemy can get close to us and there's a possibility I will be unable to reach you," he replied. He stubbornly refused to relax. In fact he got even tense, although he did stay in my grasp.
"We'll find them. If I know you, I know you won't let this go without some sort of retribution. We'll find them and break this curse. I know it." This time I massaged his arms until they loosened and worked my way up to his shoulders and neck. I walked around behind him so I could massage his back to. "Relax Sesshomaru. Stressing over it now won't help us find them. You need a clear mind to think."
I continued my job of working all of his tenseness away when I heard and felt a rumbling. Sesshomaru appeared to be growling, but it seemed more like purring. I stifled a grin as I kept massaging him. It was nice to hear his reaction, voluntary or involuntary. I looked away and remembered where we were. We were standing in the middle of the palace grounds and I was still covered Sesshomaru's true form's slobber.
"Um...I should probably go bathe. I'm glad you enjoyed the massage," I smiled. If I had been able to see, I would've seen his slightly dazed and sleepy expression.
So Sesshomaru really did wait until the deadline was 24 hours away. Then again, I didn't encourage him and we had a lot on our minds. I trained harder with Hikari no Ken, and Sesshomaru increased the number of patrols. There were only minor scuffles with the dark priestess. Somehow, she managed to always escape before either of us to land a killing blow. The dark miko always hinted at her master, never revealing his identity. She always said Sesshomaru should know him.
"Sayuri, it's time," Sesshomaru said as he walked down the hallway towards his bedroom.
I gulped and trailed behind him. Of course I wasn't nervous. What's there to be nervous about? After all, it was just a room...with a bed...where we'd complete the mating ritual...see? Nothing to be nervous about. A breath from the inuyoukai extinguished the light, plunging me into familiar darkness. Only this time, I seemed more aware of where Sesshomaru was.
"I find it hard to believe, but I've found myself caring for you," Sesshomaru whispered, standing before me. Chest to chest.
It was as if those words were a signal. A signal for my eyes to start burning, and it wasn't from tears either. I grimaced and screwed my eyes shut. I heard a whisper of praise from Benzaiten in my ear when a blinding white light burst behind my eyelids. I stood for a moment before opening my eyes. I scream and jumped back, managing to fall onto the bed.
I could see everything now! Benzaiten returned my vision. I looked up at Sesshomaru's questioning face and stared. His silvery hair framed his face, and I could see his deep gold eyes and distinct facial markings. Chi was correct when she said Sesshomaru was handsome. To me, that would be an understatement. He was drop-dead gorgeous. My lips involuntarily parted in amazement.
"I can see you...clearly," I whispered.
"A blessing?" I nodded. "Do my looks please you?"
I took this opportunity to leisurely scan his body. Oh yes, he was more than pleasing to the eye. "Yes. Do mine?"
He didn't respond. Instead he hovered above me and kissed me deeply. I found myself melting into his touch almost instantaneously. I was comforted with the fact that Sesshomaru at least somewhat cared for me. Arranged marriages didn't always have love. Strangely, I was okay with this and I let my inhibitions go.
In the final moment, Sesshomaru's eyes faded to a feral red as his fangs elongated. His fangs sank into my neck where his courting mark was. I was too lost within the pleasure to fully register the pain from the punctures. I did, however, register the taste of blood. It had a heady taste that made my head spin. Sesshomaru gave me a small smile, which I tired returned, as I let the curtain of sleep drag across my eyes.
I woke up the next morning wrapped in Sesshomaru's mokomoko. Sesshomaru walked through the door with a slightly annoyed look.
"The Elders are here and want to see you," he looked at me, "do you have to be so cheerful in the morning?"
"I can't help it. Have I mentioned I love to see you get annoyed?"
"No, but I can tell. Although, last night you may have mentioned you love seeing me-"
I interrupted him with a kiss to prevent him from finishing his sentence. I then got ready to meet the Elders. From my last meeting, I was a little nervous to see them again. They seemed a bit...intimidating. Regardless, I would walk into the room with my head up as the mate of Sesshomaru should be.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I see you did take Sayuri as you mate. Congratulations Lord Sesshomaru, Lady Sayuri," one of the Elders said.
They all looked extremely regal, the one on the right had cropped black hair, the center one had long brown hair and the one on the left had dark grey hair in a long ponytail.
"We have good news and bad news. You cannot have a hanyou for your heir and we know where the caster of your curse is," the head Elder said. He was the one with brown hair.
Sesshomaru growled, "then why did you force us to mate? Where is she?"
"We thought you'd refuse. We would not have killed her if you did," the grey haired one replied. "Lady Sayuri will have to...die so you can mate with a pure inuyoukai."
Suddenly a figure popped into the room. Benzaiten. "Oh dear, I'm too early. Please carry on. I'll interrupt when the time is right."
"I refuse. I will not allow you to lay a finger on Sayuri. She will be my mate," Sesshomaru growled with red eyes. So it was just his speaking.
"And that's my cue. As the goddess of love, I cannot allow you three to tear them apart. They're important. So they need to stay together to ensure that destiny unravels as it should've before the god of mischief messed everything up."
"But that doesn't solve our problem. Thank you for returning my sight by the way," I replied giving her a quick bow.
"This will be perfect," Benzaiten smiled as she walked over to me and placed her hand on my abdomen. "Your first offspring will be full inuyoukai, but won't receive any miko abilities. Does this suit you?" she asked looking at the Elders. They quickly nodded, stunned at the divine intervention.
"Th-thank you Benzaiten," I stuttered bowing to her again as she faded from sight.
The silver haired Elder cleared his throat, "the dark miko is in the Southern Lands. With Lord Ichirou."
AN: Sorry guys there's no lemon. I don't want to risk getting this deleted. But if you really want one (and ask nicely) I could try writing one (I've never written one before) and post it somewhere else. If I did this, the link would be on my profile.
Well I hope you guys liked this and I just realized how fast I made Sesshomaru start to care for Sayuri. Two months! Is that enough for him? I sincerely hope that I didn't inadvertently make Sayuri a Mary-Sue. By all means correct me if I did.
