| { Confound : Chapter 10 } |
||.Mischance.||
Oh my good gods I have never had such a headache in all my life. With each pound came another pang of pain, each time I tried to get out of bed I felt dizzy and woozy all at once. I don't really want to know how many times I emptied the contents of the greatest meal I've ever eaten into the toilet. At least all the proper toiletries were within the bathroom so I could freshen up after that. I wasn't quite sure what to do then… was I to wear the same outfit twice? That would surely blow my 'high-society' scheme right out the window—oh, the window.
Did I mention what a grand view I had? When I pulled the drapes to the side I could open the door to step out onto the patio to see the ocean. I think I love the ocean more so than anything. I would love to live in Osaka and take a walk on the beach every day, to feel the sand seep between my toes, to fee the brilliant breeze blow my hair, all of it. It was perfection.
It was heaven.
I enjoy myself too…
"You're awake," Inuyasha-san declared after opening the door without even knocking, though, I guess I should be thankful for that.
"Inuyasha-san," I murmured before I turned around to look at him.
"You look like hell."
I just glared before sighing and turning back to the window, that's so rude.
"There's a closet full of clothes that should fit you, shoes, and other items, get dressed then come downstairs we have to…" he sighed, "suffer through another family meal."
"Inuyasha-san," I bickered a bit, "that's crude. You should be grateful that you have a family that wants to spend time with you and loves you."
I just heard the door close behind him as a reply.
I shook my head lightly before turning away from the window and towards the closet, opened it, and right away felt like a child in a candy store.
{ | x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x | }
Eventually she came down in a green dress with a white collar attached. She sat at the same spot as the night before, with Inuyasha and Sesshomaru already arguing across from her. Sesshomaru was reading the newspaper, tilting away from his half-brother, as he shot him insults in retaliation for whatever nonsense Inuyasha was spewing.
It was cute in a sibling feud sort of way; she couldn't help but smile at the scene.
"Watanabe-san," Sesshomaru began, finally disregarded Inuyasha all the way, "why this fool?"
"Sesshomaru, shut the fuck up," Inuyasha scoffed, "got it? Leave Kagome alone."
"You are truly improper," he murmured, "calling your fiancée by her first name like that."
"He is very improper," Kagome had to put in.
"At least Watanabe-san knows that," was the last thing anyone got out before Shiori and Inutaisho entered to find their seats.
"I have decided," Shiori declared after breakfast—another greatest meal of Kagome's life; fresh fruits, foreign pastries, and so much more—was finished, getting all the attention right away, "that tonight we should bring Inuyasha-kun and Watanabe-san to the Tanaka-sama's party. That way we can show off the son that is never here and his wife-to-be."
"That sounds like a good idea," Inutaisho replied.
"Sesshomaru," Shiori smiled, "you will be attending tonight, too?"
"I have business to take care of today," Sesshomaru dragged out before sighing, "I'll try, if I must."
"You must," Shiori stated before excusing herself from the table, her husband followed suit shortly after, then Sesshomaru.
"I was really planning on leaving today…" Inuyasha muttered before getting up and giving a hand to Kagome, "I kind of anticipated this, though," hence why he bought her for the night, "I guess we'll push it off until tomorrow. We will get you back in time, I promise."
"Alright," she retorted before letting him escort her out of the room.
"So?" Inutaisho inquired, his golden gaze wandering from the dining room door to his wife, "Watanabe-san seems fine."
"Yes," Shiori shrugged as she picked up a file, "the private investigator did verify all that Inuyasha-kun told us… She is fine; it is a bit unfortunate that her family is all gone… but it doesn't matter too much anyway. He is only the second in line; it is only of vital importance who we finally get Sesshomaru to marry."
"True," Inutaisho nodded, "at least Inuyasha has found himself a wife. I hope it will settle him down."
"I have to say I was wary, your son's last…" Shiori shivered before grasping her arms around her chest, "it was a great deal like yours, isn't it?"
Inutaisho gave a rather weak glance to Shiori, "you are out of line, Shiori-san, remember your place in this house."
"As long as my son is the favored one in the end, I do not care about your past indiscretions," Shiori assured before turning her back to walk off.
"It does not matter what you think, Shiori-san, you are but a woman, remember that."
{ | x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x | }
I loved it. I loved every moment of the day, from roaming around on the beach again, to wandering through the streets of downtown Osaka, to… everything. It was quite possibly the most fun I had ever had in my entire life, and even though I shouldn't have been I was excited to go to the party that night. To pretend to be Inuyasha-san's fiancée, to pretend like we were in love, to pretend like I wasn't what I was…
I made sure to change into one of the nicest dresses within my closet, a maroon almost silky fabric that went down to my ankles. It was a very proper and pretty dress, if I do say so myself. I even put my hair up for the night and then grabbed a black shawl before heading out into the hallway to go meet Inuyasha-san once more.
To my dismay, Tsukino-sama was there waiting for me. Her eyes evaluating me before she took a few steps forward and looked down my body once more, "you have small hips… it will be a bit problematic for you to give birth to an heir but besides that you are fitting. I approve of your marriage to Inuyasha-kun."
I expected something more but she just nodded and walked away… ruining all my good joy all the while.
Because I would never marry Inuyasha-san… and even if—in some happy fantasy world that I will never see—I could I would never be able to produce him an heir… I could never have a family. That never bothered me before, Inuyasha-san. Either way, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, pressing my lips together to try and regain my good cheer. It hurt all of a sudden, an ache, a terrible ache took over all the beating pleasure that once consumed me.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha-san called out from down the hallway, "you OK?"
"Yes," I smiled the best I could before regaining myself to walk over to him, "let's go."
"Let's go," he repeated before we headed out to the car—I had never ridden in one of those!—that waited outside for us to take us to a house that was bigger than that of the Tsukinos'—was that possible?
I don't think I've ever been somewhere so crowded, either. It was splendid; it wasn't the crazy, chaos that the Shikon was always condemned to. It was a pleasant high-brow situation. One that I knew I would never experience again in my life.
"I hate these things," Inuyasha-san muttered to me between clinched teeth as he led me away from the crowd and to the dance floor.
"They can't be that bad," I countered before he placed a hand on my hip and then the other took my hand to lead me in the waltz—I think, I'm not sure about western dances at all.
"They are," he assured, still bitterly, "it just a bunch of morons rubbing elbows with each other, few people actually like anyone here."
"At least it's a nice atmosphere," I shrugged lightly before he twirled me, "Inuyasha-san!"
"It's part of the dance," he promised as he pulled me back to him, "and you are supposed to call me Tsukino-san in public, remember?"
"Tsukino-san," I corrected myself with a roll of my eyes, I could feel him pull me a little closer then.
"I heard Shiori talking to you earlier, she approves, huh? That's a rather big deal, I figured my dad would be the one to shrug it off and say 'fine' and then demand she do the same."
"Why do you say that?"
"She's… difficult," I could tell he picked his word carefully, "we have to mingle a little bit, let Shiori show you off to her friends, and then we can leave. I promise I'll get us out of here as quickly as possible."
"Tsukino-san," it felt so strange to say that, Toashi-san seemed more proper but… oh well, "is this right?"
"You're doing fine," he falsely assured me.
"No," I shook my head lightly; making sure to keep my voice so that only his ears could hear me, "I mean… to show me off like this when we aren't…"
"It's fine," he stated, "people say they are going to get married and don't all the time. I already figured out what to tell them when I come in a year or so to say the wedding is off."
I nod meekly at that… even though I told myself not to wonder, I couldn't help but do so anyway. He kept saying he was just 'buying himself time' but to do what? Was he looking for the perfect wife or was he waiting to convince a special someone to say 'yes'?
It didn't much matter, I hadn't the time to ponder for the rest of the night as Tsukino-sama tore me away from Inuyasha-san shortly after the song finished so she could do just as Inuyasha-san said. I don't know how often I had to smile and bow my head to a new person that night but I was a bit dizzy from all of it after she stopped the 'show and tell' and took my left hand.
"I see Inuyasha-kun gave you that ring," she muttered as she examined each pink diamond that laced the golden band, "hmph, do you know if you want a traditional wedding or a western styled one? Either way works fine."
"Uh," I choked before I got my hand back, "I do not know, it is up to Tsukino-san."
"What is up to me?" Inuyasha-san inquired as he came up to his.
"What type of wedding you two will have," Tsukino-sama explained.
"That'll be a while away, we needn't worry about that yet."
"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru-san stepped in before Inuyasha-san could take me away from Tsukino-sama like I could tell he meant to, "let me have a dance with your wife-to-be."
"No," he snorted.
"Inuyasha-kun," Tsukino-sama sang, "don't be like that. Go ahead, Sesshomaru. It's nice to see you showed up."
"Anything for you, mother," he countered before taking one of my hands and delicately leading me to the dance floor—I had to glance back to Inuyasha-san, who's eyes were barely on me before Tsukino-sama pulled him along to go say hello to another group of women.
"You look familiar," Sesshomaru-san declared after we started, thankfully it was a slow song and we needn't do anything more than sway.
"Do I?" I murmured—he had never been to the Shikon, right? I don't remember ever seeing him and I'm sure I would… probably. I held my breath as his golden hard gaze glanced about me.
"Ah," he nodded, "now I remember. You look like that woman."
I didn't ask even though I wanted to, it really wasn't my place to anyway.
"The last one that Inuyasha wanted to wed," I could feel myself squeeze his hand involuntarily as I looked away. Inuyasha-san has wanted another to marry—well, no, it wouldn't be 'another' since I'm not even someone he really wants to marry… just kept breathing, I just reminded myself that.
"I wager you two won't really marry," I closed my eyes, "I do not mean to upset you Watanabe-san," if you didn't then why even bother to tell me, Sesshomaru-san? "I just want you to be aware of what will most likely come to be. Inuyasha is a fool but a focused fool, he will continue to try and get what he wants even though it is pathetic."
It's alright… it's alright… because I know that we will never wed. I know. I really do. I know…
Right as the song slowed to a stop, Sesshomaru-san and I took a step apart from each other and clapped for the band. I couldn't help but notice how Sesshomaru-san's stare never left me even when Inuyasha-san swopped in to steal me away.
"Enjoy yourself?" He chuckled lightly as we exited the mansion, "if you want we can walk back or I could get us a ride."
"Either way is fine," I replied as I adjusted my shawl to cover my shoulders, "it was not that terrible."
"You don't have to deal with them all the time," he sighed; never would he know how lucky he was. I wouldn't mind having to deal with those events all the time if it meant I did not have to deal with a perverted man penetrating me each night. "You said something earlier today," he coaxed as he took my hand to lead me down to the beach. All the nice houses must back onto the beach, not that I didn't understand why. If I could have a home of my own I surely would love to have it by the sandy dreamland.
Still, I know I said I loved the beach but not in a dress that coast more than I did a night.
"I did?"
"This morning," he clarified, "that I was lucky to have the family I did."
"You are," I kept up, I don't care if he had constant tiffs with his brother, I don't care if his step-mother wasn't the friendliest person in the world, I don't care if his father and him didn't get along, he still had a family. A family that did not sell him into one of the oldest professions on the plant…
"Is that because you don't have one?" he took both of my hands to help me sit down upon the steps that lead to the beach then began to take my shoes off for me. It was silly, we had had sex for heaven's sake but I still think I blushed as he lifted my ankles and gently pulled off some of the finest shoes I have ever worn; also, some of the most uncomfortable, so I wasn't sad to see them go.
"I have one," I countered weakly. Everyone has a family, everyone has a mother and a father, just not everyone gets to live with them, gets to know them, gets anything from them…
"How could your family let you come to work at the Shikon?" He inquired, now most of the time when I got that question with a sense of condescending scoff attached to it but he was purely asking. That didn't stop the sting, though.
"I don't want to talk about it," I whispered back before he helped me to my feet and we headed out on a path that he had chosen. I had to lift my dress up with one hand to make sure it did not brush against the sand and hold onto my shawl to make sure the sea breeze did not blow it away with the other.
"I suppose you wouldn't," he murmured, "I suppose… in a way… I'm lucky for the family I have. At least I have money because I'm a Tsukino."
"At least," I replied as the water washed up to my feet. It was a bit chilly but I still enjoyed it.
"It's the simple things in life for you, isn't it?"
It took me a while to look away from the water to Inuyasha-san, "I'm sorry?"
"I give you some of the finest clothes, a brilliant room all to yourself, a ring any women would die for, and yet none of that wins a smile form you like just looking out to the sea or the food we eat," oh, now that's a bit embarrassing, he had noticed how much I enjoyed the meal?
"I'm… sorry?" I suppose that's what he was going for.
"No," he shook his head before looking ahead of us, "it's just different. I guess I was expecting you to be enthralled with all the fine gifts."
"They are nice, Inuyasha-san," I assured as I quickened my pace to keep up with him, really, how rude, he should remember that I was wearing a dress! "I am grateful, I am."
"I know."
I couldn't help but frown then, Inuyasha-san was acting so strange… so surreal. Maybe that's simply how he acted when he was at home, or maybe… his mind was on the woman he could never have. The one I resemble. The one he wanted to wed… she must be who he is waiting for, she must be why he needs to 'buy time'… at least Sesshomaru-san won't find it hard to believe that we don't marry.
Was it wrong that I found him very handsome? Probably more so than Inuyasha-san, I shook my head to rid my mind of such useless thoughts.
"Kagome," he broke me from my thoughts, "are you alright?"
"Fine," as fine as I could be, considering… I just had to keep breathing, that's all I could tell myself.
"Let's just sit for a while," he requested before stopping and heading up the mound of sand some so that the water wouldn't get to us, I followed him reluctantly.
"Inuyasha-san, this is a very nice dress, I'd hate to ruin it," I countered but he still took my hands and pulled me into his lap.
"Then sit here."
Fine, fine, I just sighed before resting my head against his shoulder to stare up at the darkened sky—why not indulge myself if he'd let me? Little was said between us for a while, then I lifted my arms up to lightly hang around his neck, he tilted his head then to rest upon the top of mine. It would have been romantic if his hand wasn't sliding down my back to my bum—at least I was certain he couldn't feel anything because of the ample fabric.
I pulled away abruptly and jumped to my feet, letting the shawl fall to the sand, and startling him some before I pointed to the sky, "did you see that, Inuyasha-san!?"
"See… what?" He coaxed cautiously.
"A shooting star!" I gleamed before glancing back down at him, "I saw one!"
He just nodded wearily before looking up to the sky again, "are you sure?"
"Yes!" Why did stars have to fall from the sky? I suppose that's the only way I could hope to touch one but what were the chances that it'd fall towards me? Besides, it wouldn't be fulfilling, I wanted to be able to grasp one in the sky.
Another white blaze shot across the sky, "I saw that one."
"I have never seen one and now I have seen two!?" I clapped my hands together, letting the pretty dress fall to be tainted by the dirty sand and waving water, "I love Osaka!"
"Alright, Kagome," Inuyasha-san chuckled; I think he must like it here, too, because I've never heard him laugh so much.
"Another, Inuyasha-san!" I pointed to the next, why were there so many? It was pretty and all, the way the sparking white painted the sky, but… it was a bit tragic, too. Poor stars, I doubt they wanted to fall from their home.
"Yes, yes," I could feel him behind me before he even wrapped his arms around my waist, "you are easily amused, Kagome."
"Mm-hm," I don't see anything wrong with that. "Perhaps you just don't see what I do."
"I don't think I do," he murmured, "but I'd like to."
"What—?" But I couldn't finish my sentence as I turned my head to look at him because his lips met mine. It was a rather awkward position but that didn't stop him from working his way into my mouth, his tongue took the lead as it ravished about.
{ | x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x | }
The next thing she knew she was in his arms, bridal style, yet their lips never parted until after her arms wrapped around his neck, "Inuyasha-san?"
"Let's go back," he asserted before he took a few leaps, she didn't even notice a thing before they landed upon the porch outside of her room. He didn't bother to set her down as he pulled open the door and stepped in, closing it with his foot, followed by him kicking off his shoes and setting her down on the bed so he could undo his fancy clothes he was forced into for the night.
She'd take too long; he was sure, to get the jacket, vest, and shirt off.
"Inuyasha-san?"
"What?" he breathed before he started to remove her dress, which had far too many parts to it. The maroon part came off with ease but then there was the series of undergarments that drove him mad. Her scent had filled his senses, it was intoxicating, why did anything have to get in his way now?
"Let me help," she requested as she slid the white skirt off before he began to pull on the end of the top to gently yank it over her head, "Inuyasha-san, what if your parents—?"
"We'll be quick, they aren't back yet," he interrupted before kneeling on the bed, one knee on either side of her, and leaning her back upon it, "just try to keep it down."
Their lips mixed together, as he brushed his excitement against her, still hidden behind his pants. Her petite hands began to unbutton his pants, he kicked them off before he began to nuzzle her neck, run his hands down her back and to her bum then kneaded her hips. He kissed his way down her body, halting here and there deliberately, paying the utmost attention to her breast; tugging, kissing, sucking. It only intensified his need when he heard her moan lightly, her hands ran through his hair to grip at his ears—it sent shivers down his spine.
It triggered a vigorous series of tongue, mouth, digits, and then the final plunge into her that made her arch and gasp. When he began his rhythmic assault she began to move along with her hips—it made him groan some as he placed his head against her shoulder. She tightened her grasp around his neck and he pulled her closer with his grip on her hip.
They didn't part much as they rocked together, keeping the noise truly to a minimum. The loudest noise the emanated from them was their pants and minute moans.
Until both of their pleasure met their pinnacle, then they couldn't really muffle their cries.
Well… then they started up again.
{ | x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x o x | }
Even though Tsukino-sama did not like me much, I'm sure, she gave me a sweet goodbye and so did the other Tsukino-sama. Sesshomaru-san did not live in their family home, I was told, and would not make it back in time to bid us a goodbye. I was a bit happy about that…
The train ride was shorter than the last time, I felt like it at least, but that was probably because I spent most of it sleeping along with Inuyasha-san. He took me as far as the corner of the street that the Shikon was on before we had to part ways.
I closed my eyes as he walked away, took a few breaths then turned to go back to my life. My actual life, the one I will always live…
Tears streamed down my face as I took a step in, I tried my best to whip them away so that none of the girls that were lingering downstairs already noticed. It took a great deal of effort to keep my gasps for air at a minimum before I knocked upon the door of Kikyou-sama's office.
"Come in," she beckoned beautifully.
"Kikyou-sama," I choked as I closed the door behind me to walk over to her desk but everything was such a blur by then.
"Kagome-chan," she gasped before she was in front of me to pull me into her embrace so I could openly cry upon her shoulder, "I am so sorry, Kagome-chan. I am sorry… I knew this would happen. I knew it. I knew I should not have let him take you outside of the Shikon… I am so sorry."
"Kikyou-sama…" I blubbered on, "I… I…"
She hushed me with a soothing 'sh' as she stroked my ebony waves, "did he do anything to hurt you?"
"No," I whimpered, not physically, not that time… "please… please… don't," it took a while before I could formulate another word in between my weeps, "make me… see… him."
"Of course, Kagome-chan," she hugged me closer, "never again."
Inuyasha-san, you are too cruel... and the worst part of it all is that you don't know it.