Author's Corner
This ficlet was written for SessKagu Week 2022. The prompt for Day 3 was 'Forbidden Love'. Cover art by Tumblr user alum131.
Trigger warning: implied sexual content.
ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS
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The breeze is restless tonight. It pulls his hair and tugs at his clothes provocatively, trying to unearth the skin beneath them. Sesshoumaru surrenders to its whims. He allows it to drag him through the forest and onto the edge of a cliff. Waves crash against the rocks below, but he isn't afraid of falling.
He peels open his hankimono and waits. The red and white sleeves flutter at his sides like butterfly wings, whereas his pelt ripples backwards, resembling a gentle wave. Closing his eyes, Sesshoumaru resists the urge to smirk when a familiar warmth settles over his naked chest. A pair of invisible hands glide down his torso, massaging his aching muscles. He keeps his eyes closed as he feels his companion slip beneath the waistband of his hakama in pursuit of his stirring member. Each stroke is accompanied by a faint whispering in his ear.
They've been doing this for quite some time now. Years have passed since his lover lost her corporal form, but contrary to popular belief, she is not gone.
The others have sensed the change in him, but they are unwilling to accept the truth. Perhaps they haven't noticed. Jaken certainly hasn't, and Ah-Un seems content to sleep through the night, oblivious to the wind's rapturous cries. Rin, however, is more perceptive than most. She has flourished under the care of the elderly miko, blossoming into a proper young lady as opposed to the hyperactive and unruly child she'd once been, yet her mind remains as sharp as ever.
"Are you happy, Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asks him one day.
She has experienced another growth spurt and is now so tall that her head skims the base of his shoulders. Her dark hair is soft and silky, like ravens' feathers, and the callouses on her feet have softened with the aid of a sturdy pair of sandals. He can't remember the last time he saw her walking barefoot anywhere that wasn't within the sanctuary of her home.
"Happiness is moot," he replies bluntly. "This one has no use for such things."
"I don't believe you."
He snorts. "You never do."
Rin smiles deviously. "Who was that person you were with yesterday?"
He blinks, unsure of what she is referring to. "Come again?"
Her expression falters when she realises that his ignorance is genuine for a change. "You were sitting beside the lake," she says in a gentle tone. "Someone was dancing around you. They wore feathers, I think. Don't you remember?"
His eyes widen in surprise. "You saw?"
She nods. "I couldn't pick out a face, though. Was it a water nymph?"
"No," he sighs, running a hand through his hair absently.
"Then who was it?"
"An old friend."
"Really?"
She sounds surprised.
"Yes, really," he affirms. "I'm not a total misanthropist, you know."
Her smile returns, only this time it is full of love and tenderness. Still smiling, she lays a hand over his and gives it a soft pat. "Happiness isn't pointless, Sesshoumaru-sama. In fact, it's the most important thing in the whole wide world. You taught me that. I hope you can do the same for your friend."
The wind whistles in his ear, compelling him to answer on its behalf.
He returns the smile. "There is no need. She already knows."
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