Chapter Twenty-Seven
Okay, I know I promised it would only take two chapters, but I got caught up there in the end so it'll extend to one more chapter then be finished with the birthday bit. Also, there's a little gift to all reading this (Mostly to myself... But I'll let you enjoy it too hehe) just for being loyal and being amazing followers/readers/reviewers.
Also, I would like to thank all of you for your birthday wishes for me the other day. It really made me smile to read those and it made my day to know you all read my note at the beginning. Like I said, I didn't really expect much for my birthday, so it cheered me up.
Anyway, just wanted to let you all know I'm here and all that stuff. Still looking for gift ideas to add into the story. (HINT HINT) Please give me one or two ideas. Something simple but cute that she might like, I only have one or two ideas myself but I want to mention at least four things, so please, idea away!
Onward!
-I do NOT own Inuyasha or it's characters
-I DO own Sonya, Niki and the plot
~TL S0nya
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The sight that greeted Niki when she walked back out into the courtyard was even more surprising than before. One quick glance alone told her there were more people, mainly children. More to the point, the children she took time to play with whenever she ventured into the village. A second glance proved the courtyard had been decorated in the short time she'd been gone.
The one thing that caught her eye was the long string of cranes that wound around the area. That alone was astonishing, it took her quite a long time to make all the cranes she folded for Sango and Miroku. But the amount needed to wrap around the whole courtyard must have been double that. Not to mention they had only found out it was her birthday just a few hours ago. There must have been quite a few people making them at once just so they'd be finished in time for this.
Turning her head slightly, Niki spotted Touga standing off to the side at the front of the crowd, a smug look of satisfaction plastered on his face at her expression. "Don't you look like the cat that ate the canary." She muttered, moving over to stand next to him, arms folded and eyebrow raised.
Blinking at her odd phrasing, Touga tipped his head to the side slightly, giving Niki a rather -adorable- curious look. "I am Inu, not feline." With a soft laugh, she patted his arm lightly and shook her head. "It's just a saying. It means you look rather smug and proud."
Turning away from her demonic companion, she watched everyone gathered talk among themselves, a small smile on her face. "Though I generally don't celebrate my birthday, thank you." Tipping her head back to stare at his face, Niki rested her hand on his arm and leaned up on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek then vanished into the crowd, quickly gathering the children together for a snowball fight.
Touga reached up and rested his fingers on the place she kissed him, a slight smile tugging at his lips while he watched her laugh joyously and attempting to dodge several balls of snow thrown her way simultaneously by a group of children. "You seem please, Headman." Shibori's soft voice brought his attention away from Niki and down to the softly smiling woman.
"Yes." He murmured quietly, eyes sliding back over to where Niki played cheerfully. "I am pleased. Good work."
Shibori flushed slightly and dipped her head in a slight bow, knowing her new master was just as uncomfortable as the Lady was when it came to any of the servants doing so. "It was nothing, Headman. Seeing her reaction alone is worth everything." With another shallow bow, she excused herself and walked over to join a few of the servants hovering around the food, each one fussing over the placement of the dishes.
Touga cast a glance around then turned back quickly in time to catch a snowball aimed at his head. Lowering his hand, he sent a amused look over at the group of children gathered around Niki. Upon seeing him look over, she attempted to point the blame on the kids by waving at them with forced nonchalance only to have all of them point at her right away.
Taking the opening she offered by turning to argue with them, Touga leaned over to pack his own ball then straightened back up to take aim. The kids, seeing this, scattered with loud bursts of laughter and leaving Niki standing there looking confused. At least she was until something cold smacked against the back of her head. Whirling around, she spotted Touga grinning lightly at her, another snowball held in his hand.
"Oh, that's how you wanna play, is it?" Muttering under her breath, she leaned over to pack her own bit of ammunition and looked up to spy her target only to come face-to-face with him instead. Letting out a undignified shriek, she stumbled backwards in the snow. Touga took the chance and smashed his snowball on-top of her head before roaring with laughter at the dark look she sent him. "If I remember correctly. You had stated you enjoyed the snow. I merely wished to help."
Shooting another scowl at him, Niki brushed the snow from her hair and climbed to her feet. "I love snow, but I don't love it in my clothes." This made Touga chuckle again as she shifted her shirt, grimacing at the cold slide of slush against her skin. Shooting a calculated look at him, a plan began to form itself in her devious little mind.
Hiding a grin, she knelt in the snow and looked up at him fully, easily gaining his attention by grabbing the front of his haori. Touga, feeling the tug on his clothes, looked down at her and blinked at the strange expression on her face. Freezing in place, he watched as she leaned forward, something in her eyes rendering him immobile as she drew closer.
Once she was sure he wouldn't move, Niki carefully scooped up a handful of snow and quickly stuffed it down the front of his clothes she had pulled out by tugging him close. Laughing loudly, she bolted away, easily hiding herself in the crowd of onlookers who quickly looked away when Touga shook himself out of the startled state he had been in and lurched to his feet. Casting a sullen look over his shoulder in the direction he knew she ran in, he made his way inside so he could remove the snow from his clothes and person without undressing in front of everyone there.
He supposed he deserved it, reflecting back with a sour look on his face. truly it was his fault for teasing her earlier, not to mention he let his own desire cloud his mind enough so she could attack. Reflecting back, it was safe to say he felt mildly relieved she didn't really want to hurt him. With how easily she distracted him, she could just as easily attack.
Peeling away the damp haori, he grimaced at the sting of cold against his heated skin and swiftly wiped the trickles of melting snow from his chest before tossing the wet cloth away then turned to the low dresser to pull out a dry top.
A soft knock on the door behind him made Touga straighten back up and sniff the air curiously. Catching Niki's strangely unique scent of rain and lightning, he strode over and slid the door open to peer down at her nervous face.
When Niki saw Touga stalk inside with an obviously offended, not to mention wounded, pride, a small sting of guilt struck her. It really wasn't fair for her to use his attraction against him like that, and while she didn't really think of the man that way, it must have hurt his male pride anyhow.
Chewing on her lip, she waved off the kids when they crowded around her and made her way inside. It wouldn't kill her to apologize, and even if he did deserve it, she knew in this time and man's pride was important. And she had just poked a big needle into his ego bubble.
Waving off one of the guards, Niki shook her head when he offered silently to walk with her and disappeared into the shiro, remembering the room he had picked for himself after taking over as headman and hesitating outside. Maybe he was too mad at her to accept the apology she had.
Chewing on her lower lip, Niki bowed her head as worry swamped her once more. He was quite literally her only real friend she knew better than the rest of the villagers or servants. Not that she'd admit it out-loud, but she treasured his friendship above all else at the moment, it meant more to her than she could really explain. And the thought of him being angry upset her more and more as she thought.
'I can't just stand here.' Gritting her teeth, Niki straightened her spine and knocked lightly on the door, knowing full well he could tell who was outside by scent alone and simply waited. It didn't take long before the door slid open to reveal a topless Touga standing in the doorway, staring down at her in bemusement.
Eyes level with his chest, she felt her cheeks begin to heat up bit by bit. It was still damp from the melted snow, and she could feel the heat practically radiating off of him from where she stood. It wasn't hard to admit it, the man was an Adonis. Really, his face alone was attractive enough, but couple that with his chest and damn, one deadly sexy male right in front of her. A low sound -throat clearing- shook Niki from her perusal of the muscled chest and stomach in front of her and up to a very amused Touga looking down.
Feeling her face heat up even more, Niki stumbled back a step or two and covered her face with her hands, words tumbling out of her mouth in a spiel she couldn't stop. "S-sorry! I didn't mean, I mean I did, but I didn't think- Why are you- Oh man, I seriously don't want- Just wanted to- Really, It's just- I kinda felt-" Feeling a hand press against her lips, she stopped her rambling and looked up at Touga -When did he move closer?- with wide eyes. "Calm yourself."
Nodding slowly, she watched as he straightened up and dropped his hand, eyes wary as he waited for her to start rambling once again. Taking a deep breath, Niki closed her own eyes and took a deep breath, trying to still her rapid heartbeat. "I just wanted to say sorry for what I did out there." She finally managed to get out, eyes still closed tightly.
Staring down at her, he quirked an eyebrow at her reaction. Narrowing his eyes in thought, he took another step forward, his pointed ears barely catching the sound of the hitch in her breath. A swelling feeling of male pride filled his chest as he grinned and leaned closer, his nose barely brushing along her cheek.
"Touga..."
"Hmm..?" He hummed softly, nose sliding along her jaw now, hands resting against the wall on either side of her as he continued taking in her scent contently.
"We- I should really get back out... There..." Trembling, cold hands rose up to rest against his chest lightly. Nervousness barely tainting her usual scent as he moved closer.
"In a moment." Murmuring in her ear, Touga brushed his lips against it lightly and moved them along her jaw, tracing the same path his nose took earlier as she shivered slightly. The man was barely touching her, his lips and nose only, and here she was reaching the point of spontaneous combustion. "Touga, please..."
Reaching up, he gripped her chin gently and tipped her face up so he could look into her eyes. "Niki." Murmuring softly, he closed in for the kill, his lips pressing against her own as he wrapped his arms around her gently, pulling her to his chest. A soft whimper slipped from her as Niki melted against him, fingers curling lightly against his chest, simply following his lead as he moved his lips against hers with a slow pace, simply content to take his time tasting her.
'Good god, he should be outlawed...' Niki thought briefly, her hands sliding up to wrap her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes to press against his lips harder, her lips parting just enough to let the tip of her tongue flick against his lower lip, making Touga growl in approval.
The dire need for air forced Niki to pull away, chest heaving slightly as she gasped, eyes impossibly wide as she stared up at him. Here she was, arms wrapped around the very person she just previously thought of as a friend. She had just kissed him, shared a pretty damn hot kiss with him, melt worthy even. And it didn't seem... Wrong.
Didn't she just say to herself that she didn't think of him this way? Didn't she just say that he was her closest friend? What the hell happened to those thoughts? Gone, flown right out the window once his lips touched hers. Something akin to an electric shock swept over her at that moment and everything just vanished from sight aside from this sex god in front of her. All she could think about was that damn kiss and how much she fucking enjoyed it.
Good god, what the hell was wrong with her?
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