Chapter Nine: Sixteen Going on Thirty
Sesshoumaru looked down at a sixteen year old Ai who was fast asleep in his arms. For some reason he didn't mind this and was fighting hard not to enjoy the time he spent holding her. He gently ran his fingers through her hair and was reminded of a scene that took place about a year ago when he had first kissed her, but Sesshoumaru soon put that that out of his head. He tightened his grip on Ai holding her closer to him, making her blue eyes slowly flutter open. Still in a sleepened state she could only mange to mutter one word "Sesshoumaru-sama". Sesshoumaru didn't answer but instead rose to his feet helping Ai up as well. They would continue traveling today. They were less than a mile from the palace and had no intention of stopping.
As Ai walked down the familiar halls of the palace to her room she noticed that Sesshoumaru was following her. When they reached her door they both stopped and stepped inside, closing the door behind them. Ai sat down, more than slightly confused as to why he had followed her. Sesshoumaru looked her over and then decided to speak "Tomorrow I want you to go to one of the villages and find a suitable husband". She stood up not wanting to hear anymore "Marriage! I'm sixteen not thirty! I'm way too young to be even thinking about marriage!" "It was merely a suggestion and I suggest that next time you decide to voice you're opinion that you remember whom you're speaking to."
Ai stood up and gave a small apology, bowing her head slightly. She then walked over to Sesshoumaru and stopped to stand in front of him: making sure to catch the gaze of eyes before she spoke. "If and when I get married don't worry you'll be the first person to know." She gave him a small smile and he felt slightly relieved, it had seemed like forever since she gave him one of her smiles. "Ai I have a small favor to ask of you, I need you to look after things until I return" "Where are you going?" "To fight Inuyasha," He said the name as if it were a curse and proceeded in exiting the room.
Ai followed him down the hallway, lifting her kimono slightly so she could run out the doors of the palace and hopefully catch up to him. He stopped and turned around to see that she was behind him, her hair slightly wet from the lightly falling rain. "And if you don't return?" Sesshoumaru looked at her seeing a look of worry fill her eyes " There are no don'ts, as long as I can count on the fact that you'll be here waiting for me I will always return." It wasn't long until the realization of what he said had sunk in. Without thinking Ai placed a soft, gentle but quick kiss on his lips. With that Sesshoumaru left and set out to find Inuyasha with her scent still fresh in his mouth.
Sesshoumaru looked down at a sixteen year old Ai who was fast asleep in his arms. For some reason he didn't mind this and was fighting hard not to enjoy the time he spent holding her. He gently ran his fingers through her hair and was reminded of a scene that took place about a year ago when he had first kissed her, but Sesshoumaru soon put that that out of his head. He tightened his grip on Ai holding her closer to him, making her blue eyes slowly flutter open. Still in a sleepened state she could only mange to mutter one word "Sesshoumaru-sama". Sesshoumaru didn't answer but instead rose to his feet helping Ai up as well. They would continue traveling today. They were less than a mile from the palace and had no intention of stopping.
As Ai walked down the familiar halls of the palace to her room she noticed that Sesshoumaru was following her. When they reached her door they both stopped and stepped inside, closing the door behind them. Ai sat down, more than slightly confused as to why he had followed her. Sesshoumaru looked her over and then decided to speak "Tomorrow I want you to go to one of the villages and find a suitable husband". She stood up not wanting to hear anymore "Marriage! I'm sixteen not thirty! I'm way too young to be even thinking about marriage!" "It was merely a suggestion and I suggest that next time you decide to voice you're opinion that you remember whom you're speaking to."
Ai stood up and gave a small apology, bowing her head slightly. She then walked over to Sesshoumaru and stopped to stand in front of him: making sure to catch the gaze of eyes before she spoke. "If and when I get married don't worry you'll be the first person to know." She gave him a small smile and he felt slightly relieved, it had seemed like forever since she gave him one of her smiles. "Ai I have a small favor to ask of you, I need you to look after things until I return" "Where are you going?" "To fight Inuyasha," He said the name as if it were a curse and proceeded in exiting the room.
Ai followed him down the hallway, lifting her kimono slightly so she could run out the doors of the palace and hopefully catch up to him. He stopped and turned around to see that she was behind him, her hair slightly wet from the lightly falling rain. "And if you don't return?" Sesshoumaru looked at her seeing a look of worry fill her eyes " There are no don'ts, as long as I can count on the fact that you'll be here waiting for me I will always return." It wasn't long until the realization of what he said had sunk in. Without thinking Ai placed a soft, gentle but quick kiss on his lips. With that Sesshoumaru left and set out to find Inuyasha with her scent still fresh in his mouth.
