Snippets of Time- Chapter 14
Summary: AU Sess/Kag Their first encounter was innocent enough, just a child hiding from the oppression of expectations and a teenager searching for an escape from the responsibilities of his duty to his family. But it would grow from simple moments of solace in each other's presence to something much deeper, much more binding.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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Inuyasha was at a loss at what to do. It had been nearly three months since he had been forced to marry that…girl from the North and now he had absolutely nothing to do to keep himself busy and not thinking about her. So he glared at the pond as Eriko weaved the flowers into a small delicate crown for one of their nephew who she had grown so fond of in the last few weeks. Her slim fingers elegantly tied the stems together, careful not to disrupt the small petals.
Three months. Three agonizingly long months of complete utter hell. And she had been nothing but the perfect wife.
Eriko was there to help dress him, to eat with him, even to help bathe him (which he had sharply rebuked her for). She was a constant fixture by his side, not so near to bother him physically, but her very presence left a bad taste in his mouth. Always a shadow. Always perfect.
He hated her. Hated her beauty, hated her quiet and gentle nature, hated her perfection in her movement, equivocation, etiquette. So he had ignored her and when he didn't he was openly hostile with her. He called her belittling names and glared at her. He had even threatened to hit her. But those light blue eyes were like stone and simply watched him, unwavering and solid. He hadn't seen her show anything since their wedding and he was still required to finish the binding ceremony. He nearly gagged at the thought of luring her to his bed (even though she came to his bed chambers every night to perform her wifely duties, only to be spat at by Inuyasha and roughly shoved away from his room) and place his mark on her neck during the peak of pleasuring her.
Inuyasha picked up a smooth stone and sent it skipping across the water. A giggle was heard to which Inuyasha lifted her gaze to see Yumiko wave at him across from the pond. She was dressed rather loosely, her kimono not as tight as it should have been around her neck, revealing her collarbone to the suddenly very receptive eyes of the Prince. A slight snap however brought his attention back to his wife who had broken a flower stem. She did not return his gaze.
Yumiko was gliding towards them on her bare feet and smiled down at Inuyasha adoringly before curling her legs under her. "Prince Inuyasha, it is a lovely day, no?" Eye lashes fluttered and Inuyasha smiled suggestively. His wife kept weaving.
"A little hot though for my liking," Yumiko fanned herself dramatically, her sleeve falling down to reveal her forearm. She stretched her neck, showing him its graceful arch. Another sound of a stem snapping came from where his wife sat. Inuyasha could only smile at Yumiko, his eyes glowing at her daring as he sent a sharp glance towards his stoic wife. She was stiffer than usual but her face was still placid.
"Perhaps my wife and I shall escort you back to your rooms where it will be cooler." There was no mistaking the sudden pause Eriko made. Yumiko smile only grew more caustic as she looked at Eriko.
"No I wouldn't want to bother her, seeing as she is preoccupied at the moment."
Inuyasha tapped his chin in a mockingly thoughtful moment, "Perhaps I shall then escort you by myself." He turned to Eriko, smoothly and confidently, "I will return shortly."
Eriko only nodded but he could feel her penetrating eyes on his back as he offered Yumiko his arm and led her back into the palace. They were quiet until they reached her rooms, where Inuyasha pushed Yumiko against the wall, his lips attacking hers. Yumiko gasped and returned her eagerness, "Inuyasha."
He growled as she pressed herself against him. He lifted her legs to wrap around his hips as he entered her room. "Oh, Inuyasha."
He leaned back and looked at Yumiko's face only to see a flash of Eriko. He paused and shook his head, pushing back the nagging voice that commanded to stop. No, he thought to himself, I won't let that bitch get to me. He took a deep breath and deposited Yumiko on her futon, crawling on top of her. She was desperately pulling at his clothes. Oh, gods, her touch is so hot.
Too hot, he thought suddenly, Eriko's stoic stone face returning once again. This time he could not push her image away. Inuyasha grabbed Yumiko's hand as they drifted to far down. Blinking at Yumiko's puzzled face, he saw Eriko there, her eyes shimmering with disappointment and shame…the only expression he had seen on her face since he had forced her out of his bedchamber the night of their wedding. Looking down on a thoroughly confused Yumiko, he felt the desire flood out of him. He pulled away. Shock flittered across Yumiko's heart shaped face, then anger. She sat up and straightened her kimono, opening her mouth to order him out of her room but found him leaving already.
Inuyasha returned to the pond but she was already gone. The only sign of her presence was a shredded pile of flower petals. He didn't see her again until dinner with Kagome and Sesshoumaru and even he could feel the difference of her behavior. She was stiffer and colder than before, but her face was filled with sadness. It was a quiet awkward dinner in which Kagome tried several times to start a conversation until Sesshoumaru signaled her to stop. Even Kintaro and his newborn niece Aiko were quiet.
She did not go to his rooms that night. He laid in bed, waiting for her soft knock, but it never came. It went on for a week and the rumors were flying. Yumiko refused to look at him and Eriko avoided him. Inuyasha hadn't realized that he would miss her presence. So he went looking for her and found her, surprisingly, in his chambers. She stood by his futon, her back turned towards him. "What are you doing here?" He asked unthinkingly then mentally kicked himself. She froze and said nothing. "I said what are you doing here?"
"I heard what you asked," she murmured, her tone sharp.
"Then answer me."
A long pause, "No."
He nearly fell over, "What?" He walked over and put his hand on her shoulder, thinking to force her to face him.
Slap! Her hand connected with his face before he even saw it. Inuyasha's jaw dropped and he turned to her. She stood there, holding the hand she had slapped him with protectively, but he noticed her face fist. It was…alive with emotions, tears flowing from her enraged eyes. Her nose was pink from crying, her lips trembling. She flushed and upset. "You dare…" Eriko started but stopped as her voice cracked. Her jaw clenched and he watched her fight majestically against a new wave of tears. Inuyasha lifted his arms and pulled her towards his chest; the shame for causing this burned within his chest. She struggled and tried to punch him but he held her firmly, her struggles morphing into sobs.
"I'm sorry," Inuyasha whispered.
"I hate you," she hiccupped. He said nothing and she sniffled. "I hate you so much."
Inuyasha was quiet for a long while, "I…didn't do anything with Yumiko."
She stiffened and pulled away but he counteracted by bringing her closer. "You left with that whore."
"I know but all I couldn't do it." Inuyasha sighed. "I wanted to, so badly but I couldn't stop thinking of you."
Eriko snarled and pushed at him again, "So sorry that I prevented you from getting it on with your whore!"
"I know you're furious. I know I deserve it but I really am sorry." Inuyasha explained, "I wanted to hurt you."
"You bastard…"
"But I couldn't go through with it." Eriko hit him with a deceptively strong fist in the chest, "I couldn't stop thinking about you."
Eriko stilled and glared up at him, still imprisoned in his arms. "I hate you."
"I know."
"I have put up with your neglect and hatred for three months. I have been disgraced and you made me dishonor my family by rejecting me on our wedding night. I must face the court in humiliation and tolerate your sister's pity daily, and you have the nerve to act as though despite your actions…you have fallen in love with me?!"
Inuyasha winced. "I didn't say that exactly."
She pushed at him again and this time he let her go. She raised her hand to slap him, "I have been nothing but perfect to you!"
Inuyasha grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him again, this time more roughly, "I never wanted perfect!" Eriko stopped in her rampage and Inuyasha growled, pulling her face closer to his, "I want a real woman…a real woman, not some sort of porcelain wife!" He panted and he could feel her breath puffing onto his own face, "I need someone with life in them. Someone who isn't afraid to stand up to me. Someone who will fight me." He kissed her then and pulled back immediately, afraid of her reaction. Her hands pulled back down and he relished the kiss that followed.
She stepped back too soon for his liking and he nearly followed her until he saw his hand out in front of him.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot."
Inuyasha looked at the slim and delicate hand that had slapped him, and smiled, "Yes I think we did."
And then she smiled; the first he had ever seen. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, "Hi, I'm Eriko."
Inuyasha mimicked her grin and took her hand, shaking it firmly, "I'm Inuyasha."
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Authors Note:
Haha, a new pairing. Hope you like them.