Chapter 2: Destiny's Calling
Three days later, Sesshoumaru sat in front of a fire in his human form. His toad sat across from him, gripping his staff nervously. His master never spoke since the meeting they had with the kitsune Youkai. It was as if he had been stripped of his ability to talk. When Jaken would approach him with a question, he would only grunt and follow it with a nod or a shake of his head. Was he giving her a moment of silence? Impossible. Still, Sesshoumaru without words was a puzzling thing. Almost unbelievable. Jaken tended to the dying fire as Sesshoumaru stared into the flames. The toad Youkai wanted to ask his master what was troubling him so, but he knew he would get no response. He would leave his Lord to his thoughts. With a bow, Jaken retired for the night.
Sesshoumaru sat silently for a long while. He had been deep in his thoughts ever since she passed. That fox Youkai. She had been powerful enough to train under the strict lessons of the great Phoenix of China, directly deny a Great Lord's passion, and strip the lives of six of his strongest warriors in one battle, and to think her last words were 'Forgive me, My Lord.' What a horrid death. He stared up at the skies above, "The Dragon Lord had good taste if he truly pursued you as you claimed." He looked down to his sleeping retainer and smirked. He absentmindedly drew the sword from its sheath at his side. It shone with a brightness in the moonlight that no blade had ever shown with. It was beautiful. Still, he craved the feel of the sword's lost twin, Tetsusaiga. A blade that could slay one-hundred youkai in one swing...a blade that had been lost. "How I wish for that fabled sword my father once carried. The sword I should have been given as the first born. However, I get this...a healing blade..." the demon Lord began, "What use does it serve me?" He was about to sheath the blade again when he realized that it could, indeed, serve him. He stared at his reflection in the blade and pondered aloud, "I could use you to bring the fox Youkai back." The sword sparkled as if in response. "The perfect time to test your power." He quickly sheathed the blade and looked at the sleeping retainer. Jaken had been up for nearly three days straight and he needed the rest. Besides, Sesshoumaru wasn't in the mood to hear his whining voice. Sesshoumaru silently slipped away, leaving him to sleep. If the toad should wake, he would know that Sesshoumaru had gone to patrol. No need for alarm.
Sesshoumaru stepped into the slight clearing where the fox Youkai rested on her side. The thick pool of blood that surrounded her had dried partially in the time he was gone. It was strange that no animals nor other Youkai had come to pick her flesh from her bones. She remained undisturbed. Sesshoumaru approached her and gently pressed a hand against her cold muzzle. It had been several hours since air had passed through it. He found himself caressing her cheek as he reached for the sword at his side. With silent steps, he walked around to her side and gently pierced her flesh with the life-giving blade. Once he struck bone, he stopped. The blade shone brightly as it brought life back to the creature. Her tails were the first thing to awaken, her ears not far behind. He gracefully removed the sword with a quick pull and stepped back as the creature's body stirred and drew in a deep breath of fresh air. Her tattered remains mended themselves and the missing pieces re-spawned. He sheathed the blade and licked the remnants of her blood from his fingers. It was incredibly sweet and it sent shivers down his spine. He had tasted the blood of many Youkai before, but this had to have been the sweetest. He looked up and noticed that she had reverted back to her human form. Sesshoumaru walked up to her and kneeled, staring at her as she slowly opened her eyes. She looked up at him, recognizing his scent as the white dog Youkai and quickly dropped her gaze to his feet, "My Lord, please forgive me for dying before answering your question."
Sesshoumaru smirked and helped her sit up, "You are no common lower Youkai. You are much more than that. I ask that you forgive me for my attitude towards you."
His words surprised her and she wasn't sure of how to respond. She did not want to keep the Lord waiting however so she nodded, "Only if you forgive me for staining your paw with my blood."
He had to admit her insistently demure stature irritated him greatly, but it also drew him in. She was a kind woman, indeed. She wasn't sour to the eyes, either. He had almost expected a warrior dog woman to have the face of a warrior dog. He was slightly disappointed in the fact, since now he found himself even more attracted to her. Her features were a treat. Soft skin, long black hair, warm golden eyes. He looked her over and noticed she was adorned in an expensive robe herself. She was indeed royalty to her kind. On her left shoulder she wore the crest of the fox Youkai (a golden leaf) and directly above it was the crest of the Phoenix (a firebird). He had seen the Phoenix's emblem in one of his father's scrolls. Sesshoumaru gently touched the emblem, "You were not telling lies, then. You wear the crest of the Phoenix as proof."
The girl nodded, "I serve him faithfully, even now. I was sent here by him on a mission and I was sidetracked by the Dragon Lord."
Sesshoumaru nodded, "What is your mission?"
She looked into his eyes and determined that since he was so kind as to bring her back, then he could be trusted with the details, "My Master fears that our existence is threatened. As we speak, the humans of China are turning their prayers to foreign gods. Soon, the Great Dragon and the Lord Phoenix will disappear. The Phoenix and the Dragon counseled and decided to see if there were more who faced similar fates. They sent me here to seek out the four Lords of Japan. I spoke to the Lords of the North and East with no problems. It was when I reached the Lord of the South that I had found myself as a potential mate in the eyes of a Dragon." She sighed deeply.
Sesshoumaru was amazed that the great Lords of China would send a woman out to do the deeds of a man. Of course, this was no ordinary woman. He pondered for a minute and spoke up again, "So you have yet to speak to the Lord of the West land?"
She nodded, "I have yet to find him. I was told his den was hidden on the boundaries of the mountain lands and I have been searching for almost a year now. My Master is probably worried about me."
Sesshoumaru nodded in return, "Indeed. Well you may return to him soon."
She gave him a questioning look, "Do you know where the Lord of the West Lands is?"
He smirked, "I am Lord Sesshoumaru, son of the Great Demon Lord of the West Lands. I am his first-born son and rightful heir."
She immediately bowed before him, "I am very sorry! I was expecting to find the Demon Lord, Inu-Taisho!"
Sesshoumaru held back a pained growl. The mention of his father's name always left him with a feeling of grief. He reached out and gently raised her chin, "I, Lord Sesshoumaru, wish for you to look upon me when you speak as I look upon you when I speak."
She nodded and cleared her throat from the sudden hoarseness, "I shall, My Lord. Tell me, is your power waning, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
He had never noticed if it had or not, seeing how he hadn't had a good fight in years. He did notice how there were fewer and fewer demons around. They were being exterminated far too easily now. He nodded in response, "It seems as though our race is slowly being wiped clean from the Earth as fresh blood from a wound. Soon the blood will stop flowing and so our existence shall end. The humans have grown stronger in their foreign deities and we will surely suffer the same fate as those in your homeland."
She knew he would say something to that degree. All the other Lords said the same thing, though less flowery. She sighed in sadness, "I had hoped I could return home with some good news, but now...now I must face my Master with a new burden."
Sesshoumaru suddenly felt saddened as well, though he wasn't sure why. No. He knew why. He didn't want to see her sad nor did he want her to leave. It was rare to come across a powerful Youkai female that wasn't the mate of an even stronger Lord. Not only that, but he was positive that once she returned home he would never see her again. Such beauty could not be looked at once and then forgotten completely. He snapped out of his deep thought to see her staring at him. He cleared his throat and turned his gaze elsewhere. Had he spoken his thoughts and if so, did she hear him?
She tilted her head and fumbled to speak, "My Lord, please forgive me for saying this in such a serious conversation, but... you are the most handsome Youkai that I have ever seen. Though my years were short here, before my leaving for China, I had seen many dogs, but none as stately as yourself. Again, I apologize if my compliment comes at a bad time."
Sesshoumaru nearly expelled a sigh of relief. She was thinking the same thing he was, then. He didn't feel so awkward now and he met her gaze, "And in all my life I have never met one as enchanting as yourself. You have everything I could ever hope for in a mate. The intelligence and wisdom of a dragon, the fighting spirit of a dog, and the grace and beauty of a phoenix. A rare jewel, indeed."
She found herself blushing deeply, "My Lordship may call me Kaori if he so desires."
Her name was as beautiful as the soul that claimed it, "Lady Kaori, I would be honored if you would allow me to keep you company before you leave for your homeland, if only for a night."
Kaori nodded with blushed cheeks, "I would be most honored if you would. I have wanted it...since the first time I laid eyes upon you as you patrolled your territory." Wasting no time, she untied the sash that held her elaborate kimono closed, her eyes concentrating on his.
He moved his hands up to curl his fingertips along the collar of her kimono, gently brushing his fingers against the warm skin of her neck. It sent tingles down his spine. He brushed his thumbs against the skin once more and was thrilled to hear a soft purr escape her lips. She pulled the untied sash away so the kimono slid down completely, revealing her inner kimono. He cursed under his breath for the fact that they had to wear so many layers of clothing to consider themselves 'decent'. He gingerly unfastened her inner kimono and slid it down to reveal her smooth breasts. His eyes wandered down and lingered there. She noticed his staring and blushed more, pulling a hand up to cover herself. He caught her movements before she could get far, however. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands down, "They are beautiful. Do not hide them."
She smiled and lowered her head, "Thank you, My Lord."
He feigned agitation and shot back, "By the way, I would rather hear you screaming my name than to hear you screaming 'My Lord'." He was happy to hear the soft giggle that followed. He removed his armor and put it aside, unfastening his youkata before removing it. She took over at once and removed his inner robe, taking in the smooth, muscular frame that revealed itself. He was indeed well-built, despite the frailty he portrayed at times. He hid it well, she agreed with herself. She slid her hand down his chest, exploring every bump and crevice with her fingertips. Her soft touch made him shudder a little. He pulled her close to his bare flesh and grinned as he felt her warm chest press against him. She wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled his neck soothingly, purring as she did so. He could feel the tingles run down and excite his member, rendering quite an erection. He gently pushed her down into the grass and drew in her scent. It was sweet to his senses, just as her blood had been, filled with life and passion. He also smelled her heat. It added to the sweetness he thought. He slid his hand down her side gently as he explored her figure, tracing a circle here and there to get a giggle from her. She was ticklish, he assumed as his fingers gently poked at her sides. She, too, drew in his scent. It was of the forests themselves. Fresh and enticing. She found it intoxicating and it made her want him more. She slid her tongue along his neck, tasting his flesh. She was pleased with the initial taste and immediately began nipping as a dog would a treat. He chuckled softly and pulled his neck away, surprised to find she had followed it and was still nipping. He moved away and replace his neck with his lips. She was surprised and opened her eyes. He was gazing at her through his cold, golden eyes.
She broke away from the kiss, "I-I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru. I just got-" she began.
He smirked, "I would rather have you kiss me than eat me, my Lady." He gently poked the moistness between her legs with his erection, "Besides, if I can remember correctly, it is my job to eat you."
She blinked at him before flushing a crimson red, "My Lord..."
He smirked and pressed his lips to hers, keeping her from speaking any further. She greeted his lips with her own and purred softly as he deepened it, slipping his tongue between her lips to explore the inside of her mouth. She in turn coiled her tongue around his, gently massaging it. The tip of his tongue grazed one of her sharp fangs and twitched as the blood began to flow from it. The taste of his blood surprised her and she broke away again, "Did I hurt you, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
He shook his head, "Not at all. Shall we continue?"
She nodded and he kissed her again. He had no trouble sliding his tongue back in her mouth and she accepted it happily, tasting the blood that continued to flow. He had tasty blood, she admitted mentally. He gently slid his hand down and pulled her inner kimono away to reveal her woman hood, moist and ready to be taken. He was unsure if he should start right away however, and felt the need to make sure it was ready. Forcing his way into an ill-prepared woman would prove to be very painful for both parties. He broke the kiss and looked to her. She smiled as she watched him wet his fingers with his saliva and carefully insert them into her woman hood. She squirmed a bit at first and he stopped, questioning her before proceeding. She assured him she was fine and he continued. He gently caressed her hair in his fingertips as he watched her. She closed her eyes and purred as he fingered her gingerly, encouraging her to relax a little. He brought his lips down to greet hers in a passionate kiss, still toying with her pearl until he felt the liquid flowing down his hand and her muscles relax around his fingers. He knew she was ready when she shuddered and moaned. He brought his hand up and licked the fluid clinging to his fingers, "It tastes as sweet as your blood."
She smirked at him, "So you tasted my blood when I died?"
He smirked back, "Yes, but I made up for it by letting you taste mine."
She laughed lightly and pushed her hips against him, "And it was delicious, My Lord. Now, take me."
He brought his hand down to one of her breasts and squeezed it gently, "Of course." She opened her legs enough for him to find a comfortable position to enter her in. When the tip of his erection touched her lips, it excited an immediate moan. His ears flicked a bit and he stopped. She eyed him and encouraged him to continue by pushing her hips down against it. He smirked and pushed further inside. Her insides around his erection caused a whole new excitement to rush through him. Her muscles contracted a bit and his animal instincts kicked in at once. All he could think about was to thrust. He pushed further inside but was surprised to find her hymen had never been broken. She was a virgin. He suppressed his instincts and he stopped at once. She also noticed that he had doubts and she looked at him.
"You never told me you were a virgin, Kaori." Sesshoumaru's eyes never left hers.
She bit her lip, "You never asked."
He realized that he didn't ask and just assumed she had been taken before, "Indeed, this Sesshoumaru did fail to ask. I apologize." It still surprised him that she had never been taken before.
She could feel him pulling his member out and thinking quickly she tightened the muscles around him, stopping him from pulling out completely. She tightly wrapped her legs around him and squeezed the muscles tighter. He was astonished by her strength and stared at her, "You want me to–?"
She nodded, "I, Lady Kaori, daughter of the Great Demon Lord Kyousei Byakko and Right-hand to the Great Phoenix of China, want you, Lord Sesshoumaru, son of the Great Demon Lord Inu-Taisho and Prince of the Noble Dog Youkai, to take me as your mate if you will have me."
Sesshoumaru stared into her eyes. He did want her as a mate and he did want her to bear his first child, his heir. He did want her and so he would take her. "I, Lord Sessoumaru, son of the Great Demon Lord Inu-Taisho and Prince of the Dog Youkai, accept you, Lady Kaori, daughter of the Great Demon Lord Kyousei Byakko and Right-hand to the Great Phoenix of China as my mate."
She shut her eyes and nodded, releasing the hold her muscles had on his manhood. He immediately pushed back into her until his tip touched the resistance. He drew in a deep breath before speaking, "This will hurt..."
She swallowed deeply and tried to relax her heartbeat. She had heard of the pain involved, but she had also heard of the pleasure that came afterwards. She gave him a faint smile and kissed his cheek, "Yes, I know."
He nodded and pulled out a little, taking another deep breath before pushing through the resistance. It broke away and she yelped in pain, pulling at his hair in instinct. His hand left her breast and gently grabbed the hand that pulled his hair. "Easy..." he coaxed her in a soothing whisper, "You need some time to adjust to me, so I won't make a move until you are ready." She held back the tears as the pain throbbed a little before dulling quickly. All the while he stroked her cheek and whispered soothing words into her ear. When she was ready, he slowly pulled out and entered her again, thrusting gently so not to hurt her. Slowly she began to get into rhythm with his thrusting. It wasn't long until they moved as one, pushing and rocking in time with each other. Their rhythm picked up and the force of his thrusts grew stronger. Sesshoumaru licked at her neck as he worked, pondering silently: 'I wonder if she is enjoying this...". A minute later, his question was answered when she began to scream his name in passion. It was something he would cherish forever. Never before had his name been called with such love. His ears burned redder and redder with each 'Sesshoumaru!'. He soon answered her with a deep grunt before calling her name as he slipped into a state of bliss. The air was thick with the scent of their sex and their passionate calls were loud and hard to ignore, but they were left undisturbed. They continued until neither could hold back any further. She dug her claws into his back and he winced a bit, sensing she was ready to climax. He, too, felt it coming and pushed into her one last time, pausing, "And you are sure this is what you want? Are you sure you want me as your mate for life?"
She smiled through the hair that had been plastered to her face by their sweat, "I am positive, My Lord.."
He nuzzled her gently, "And your Master, the Great Phoenix of China. Are you sure he would be pleased to find you have mated while on your mission?"
She gripped on to what little senses she had left, trying not to let herself be overtaken by the oncoming climax, "The Master would be pleased to find I have found a mate at all.." She gasped before continuing, "..and it means the preservation of the species." She screamed his name again and that was all he needed to hear. He pushed himself deeper into her and he expelled his seed immediately. Ensuring there would be a new generation of Youkai. The feeling caused her to climax with him. Their juices flowed together and dripped from her opening. Their bodies shuddered together and gently he rested himself against her, pulling his member out. The excess fluid flowed out and pooled on the ground beneath her. They rested in the grass beside each other, both breathing deeply and taking in the scent of their sweaty bodies, the scent of sex and the scent of the forest around them. It was utter bliss.
Moments later, Sesshoumaru stood up and gently gathered her in his arms, carrying her and their clothes to a tree. They dressed themselves in their inner robes, but left the outer ones hanging on a low branch. Sesshoumaru sat down and placed his mate in his lap. A cool breeze blew gently through the trees and she shivered. He was on her in a flash, however, wrapping his arms about her to keep her warm. She nuzzled into his chest and purred gently. He smiled and stared at the spot where they had mated. His armor and sword lay on the ground beside a patch of grass flattened by their bodies. His ears twitched and he looked down to his Lady, "Lady Kaori?"
She glanced up to her Lord, "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
He gently kissed her lips and leaned back, "You said the Dragon Lord wanted you for a mate. Why did you refuse him?"
She kissed his neck gingerly, "Ever since I first laid eyes on you while you were patrolling your territory, I've held a dear place in my heart for you. You appeared so stately and powerful. I never imagined you to be as great as you really are, however."
He smirked and caressed her cheek with a thumb, "In the art of warfare or the art of lovemaking?"
She giggled and nuzzled him lovingly, "Both, My Lord."
They sat beneath the trees and the sky together. He had never been as happy as he was then. They both silently wished that the night would never end.
