Alrighty, here's the next chapter! ^_^ Yeah, I know this chapter is a bit short, but it's rather important and also has the promised 'special' fluff that I promised ya'll. But first, a HUUUUUGE thanks and brownies to my AWESOME and most recent FOURTY-ONE reviewers: Sieben Nightwing, Avril087, Zuta-chan, zeropbreakthru, Dongtgotaclue88, Neeky-chan, leahkc.16, Nicola-bear, bur bur, Forevermore21, SamanthaJane13, SarahBloomSakura, Frostfire613, Maira Saw, karlachan18, Aurora Truesdale, xxyangxx2006, rukoitalian65, Rorry Lamb, Angel-Of-Life1990, Mikachu, LadyEllesmere, bonitalito, kloppo, chocoholic123, 8fierybuddie8, Snowball A.K.A. WinterWolf, kia himatari, Guest, Audrey, Audrey, AmyRoseAlice, PachinkoIkkaku, Audrey, Fallen-Autumn-Leaves, Rin155, Kisa-Rin-Hitachiin, Momo6447, funnylittlestory, AkaChanDango, and Xerxes'Girl! OMGOSH! I love you all SOOOO much! EEEEEEK! I now have SIX-HUNDRED and TEN reviews! *runs around screaming before glomp hugging you all* Also, another HUGE thanks to all the AWESOME people who have favorited and/or followed this story! Love all you guys/girls too! ^_^ Anyways, I really hope everyone enjoys chapter thirty-eight! :D
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha, the Inuyasha plot, NOR the Inuyasha characters. I only own my own OCs Kaze Hijikata, Riko Hijikata, Ryosuke Hijikata, Toga Akatsuki and any other OCs created along the way, and any part of the plot NOT a part of the Inuyasha anime or manga. This fanfic, however, is MINE and I'd like to keep it that way.
Chapter 38-Chances Worth Taking
With Sesshomaru and Kaze/In the Field…
"H-He's… So, he's going to court me until he…" the young spiritualist was still attempting to tell herself that what was happening wasn't some kind of odd fabrication of her imagination.
"Open it," the Western Lord's deep voice instantly snapped the girl to attention as she watched his gaze flicker down to the fancy box in her arms.
"This?" she questioned, giving it a curious look. "What-"
"It is the first gift offered to you from this one for our courtship. Its purpose being to state your connection and position to this one." the Inu informed her, and despite his stoic look, Kaze could tell that he was becoming impatient.
Silently, she wondered just how long he had been remaining patient.
Feeling a bout of nervous butterflies gnawing at her insides, the young woman none-the-less opened her gift, her eyes widening at what she saw, for laying inside was a lovely, exquisite silken kimono. It was of pure white, while the shoulders and sleeves where decorated with the same pattern of locus flowers that Sesshomaru's was, except that these were a cloudy blue instead of red. Also, laying on top of the kimono was a silken obi made to match that of the Western Lord's.
Overall, the design was clearly made to openly state her ties with Sesshomaru and her position as the future Lady of the West.
"Does it meet your approval?" Sesshomaru finally couldn't hold back the question, an unwarranted feeling of unease coursing through him as, even though he could sense her pleasure, she continued to remain silent.
"It's… beautiful," Kaze finally breathed.
A smirk instantly flickered across the Inu's face upon hearing those words, while his beast hummed its smug contentment. However, the next question the Daiyoukai asked with in all seriousness, "Do you accept it?"
Red eyes instantly shot up at this inquiry, for she knew full well what he meant. By accepting the courting gift she was being offered, it was the same as officially accepting his courtship. But the question was… should she do it?
A small smile ghosted across girl's face as she already knew the answer.
It seemed life had no intention of making anything easy for her, not even if it was regarding a relationship. Then again, relationships were never supposed to be easy anyways. However, Kaze could no longer deny the fact that she at the very least wanted to give it a try. After all, she had never been one to run away from a challenge, but instead would face it dead on, even if that challenge was trying to form a working relationship between herself and a Daiyoukai that may or may not truly love her.
Yet, one thing was for sure, and that was that Sesshomaru did care about her.
He didn't need to use words for the young woman to know at least that much.
Now, whether it was the type of caring that could be the seed for a fruitful relationship… only time would be able to tell.
"I accept," Kaze finally stated with her head held high, feeling the blush spread across her cheeks as she met his gaze continued. "You… already now know how I feel about you. So, I'll give this everything I've got."
"Good," golden eyes glinted with satisfaction as the Daiyoukai listened to his intended's answer. Already he could feel his beast growling its pleasure at the situation at hand. It was as strange new feeling that coursed through him as he watched the young woman fumblingly slide the lid back on the box before tucking it under her arm.
He was… happy.
"Erm… well," the spiritualist coughed awkwardly as she walked toward her new, err… boyfriend? For the way he was currently staring at her was making the girl's seriously wonder if he was trying to melt her with that intense gaze of his. "Shouldn't we go? I mean, I'm sure the others are waiting for us."
"Hn," Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, for he did not yet feel particularly inclined to let this moment end just yet, despite how awkward his intended currently felt. "They can wait."
"Okaaay… Then now what!?" the girl was about to voice her question when a warm, clawed hand suddenly slid softly over her cheek. "S-Sesshomaru?" her voice came out surprised as she looked up into his smoldering eyes alive with something she'd never seen before.
Slowly, hardly even aware of anything else around him, the Western Lord gently slid his thumb over his female's soft skin in an almost caressing manner, golden eyes showing silent delight as she didn't even flinch. This time, even without his beast's interference, the sudden urge to have… some sort of physical contact with his intended had been overwhelming.
He may not be accustomed to this 'love' that humans always seemed to reference, but he knew one thing for sure.
The spiritualist was his, and he had no intention of ever letting her go.
Period.
At the same time, the Daiyoukai could not quell the feeling that he had truly begun to follow in his father's footsteps.
Looking down at the female in front of him, Sesshomaru could feel that his beast certainly seemed to be implying that he loved the woman standing before him. However, how exactly was the more logical side supposed to be sure of such a thing when he himself did not fully understand what this love was?
Meanwhile, not really knowing what else to do in the situation at hand, Kaze simply remained still, feeling every inch of her being instinctively begin to relax. "It's warm," her red eyes softened before slowly closing in contentment.
Sesshomaru only showed faint surprise at the action, before he found his own gaze leave her closed eyes and travel downwards to her faintly smiling lips. He was not fool enough to not know what he wanted to do next.
After all, there was no longer even the slightest thing to prevent him from now doing as he pleased.
"You are mine," the low words, barely above a whisper instantly snapped Kaze out of her lull as she felt the warm breath brush against her mouth, and before another moment could pass, he had sealed his lips onto her.
The Daiyoukai almost instantly felt the young female's body go rigid with shock. However, with his mokomoko having slid possessively around her body, as the moments deepened in length, he could feel her body slowly relax and give into the gentle administration.
Gentle.
It was not a term the ruthless killing perfection applied to himself very often.
And it was true, Kaze had indeed finally just closed her eyes and resigned herself to the blissful feeling. Never in her life had she experienced something like this, and in that moment, the young woman was aware of nothing but the feeling of warmth, comfort, and sheer presence of Sesshomaru.
Yet, there was also something else that made the girl respond as she did.
After all, she knew full well that Sesshomaru was not a creature of many words. In following, it was not surprising that explaining his own feelings was not something he excelled at. Therefore, Kaze could only expect to gain more information from his actual actions then his words.
And that was just it.
The way the Western Lord was kissing her, there was a certain… atmosphere that he gave off. Hinting, and giving to the young woman hope as this one, small action clued her in that what she was looking for in the Daiyoukai may very well be there after all. But he himself, not being very in touch with his own emotions, may just not be aware of it yet.
Finally pulling back, his golden eyes now tinted red, the Inu made a small growl of contentment as he peered down at the girl's blushing face, "Now, we shall go."
It was Sesshomaru's way of saying that now he was satisfied.
"You… are impossible," the spiritualist's shoulder's sagged wearily, a wry laugh leaving her lips as, now walking alongside her new partner, she smoothly slid her hand into his, seeming to take him by surprise by the action.
Blinking down in question at his still prettily blushing little intended, Sesshomaru was quick to find that the only answer he would be getting to his silent question was a gentle smile. A satisfied smirk flicking across his face, the Daiyoukai was quick to find himself quite liking the feeling of her smaller hand in his, and soon made quick work of securing it more firmly in his grasp.
The smile ghosting Kaze's face instantly widened, just as the blush on her face darkened, as she felt his grip tighten around her hand.
One thing was for sure, and that was that things would never be the same between the two of them.
This was a new beginning for the young woman, and she knew it. It seemed life was offering her a chance for happiness, even if the road to get to that destination may be a bit bumpy.
But still, it was a chance Kaze found that she was willing to take.
Well, I must say, I absolutely ADORED this chapter! Eeeek! I know a lot of you reviewers complimented me about keeping Sesshomaru really in character (which made me ECSTATICALLY happy). So, I hope this chapter didn't make him seem out of character. It didn't feel like he fell out of character to me, but I guess I'll know what you reader's thought of this chapter once you review. ^_^ So, pretty please do so, cause I can't wait to hear you reader's thoughts. Seriously, the reviews I've been getting have been SO inspiring. Honestly, you reviewers are just AWESOME! ^_^ So, keep up the AWESOME work and I'll keep dishing out new chapters as fast as I can whip them out. ^_^ Anyways, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did. Also, please follow and favorite this story as well. :) See you all in the next chapter! :D
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!: Alright, so just recently I took and passed my compass tests with perfect scores and successfully got into college. WHOOT! WHOOT! However, my classes won't be starting until fall. Therefore, my ultimate goal for this summer is to finish this fan fic before my fall classes start. So, I'll be doing my best to get chapters done and give them to you readers in hopes of finishing this story before fall. :D
Rock Out!
Kira