In Terms of a Shadow

Part VI

Author: profiler120

Email: profiler120@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Romance/Angst

Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome

Summary: How dare he? He'd bought her, the jerk! Paid off her mother *knowing* she couldn't refuse the money and all he wanted in return was to marry her daughter. It sounded innocent - it wasn't. If that wasn't bad enough her betrothed was a beautiful, but heartless man who had no interest in her and regarded her, loosely, as his property.

Author's Note: This story is written entirely 1st person either Sesshoumaru or Kagome's p.o.v. I did not include little notes like -Sesshoumaru p.o.v. - during each change purposely. You're supposed to read and figure out whose eyes you're looking through on your own.

Chapter 6

I could not notice her despondency. She kept quiet and avoided me as much as her limitations allowed. She would not allow me to touch her without drawing away with a slight hiss. I figured she would cool in a few days, but I just wasn't willing to wait.

I should not be suffering.

I frowned.

It had been less than twenty four hours and she was driving me crazy already. Why couldn't this be easy? Easy on her - easy on me.

I slid open the door to our bedroom and found her there, lying in bed. She had thrown the blankets over her head. The last two times I'd come to check on her she'd been crying. Not a pleasant sound in my ears. In fact I'd go as far as to say I hated it, but I had not in the slightest offered her any comfort.

This time she was silent. I stepped inside and slid the door closed. The figure beneath the blankets shifted.

"Kagome."

She shifted again. "What? Have more orders?"

She sounded unhappy. Not a surprise, I thought, but she'd just have to deal with that. I wasn't happy either.

"Get up."

"No." She replied succinctly.

"Get up." I ordered once more.

"No." Once more she refused.

"You get up, or I join you in that bed." I warned.

I watched her tense, but reluctantly sit up, only to glare defiantly in my direction. "Haven't you made me miserable enough? Go find someone else to torment!"

"No," I replied.

This could be easier, but neither of us was going to budge. One way or another, I thought.

"Let's go."

"Where?" She asked, not moving the slightest from where she sat on her knees. She didn't even show the slightest inclination of moving.

As though I were going to allow that.

"Up."

Perhaps she heard the impatience in my underlining tone because she suddenly stood, but not without a glare. Let's see now, it had been, what? Two days since I'd shared a bed with my wife?

I glanced over her tousled figure. That would be remedied. I let a slow, predatory smirk quirk up my lips.

"Perhaps staying in would be just as well," I noted, calmly stalking toward her. I reached for the thin tie at her waist and sensing my intentions she backed away.

"I thought you wanted to go somewhere?"

"I can make do here." I replied.

I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to take. It would be easy enough to get her to leave now, only staying here and exploring my wife's soft skin didn't seem like such a bad idea either. Although she was presently in a huffy mood I was certain that could be changed easily enough with proper persuasion.

Still, she seemed quite stubborn. She'd be just as pissed off at me once it was over. Best course was probably to wait - at least until evening. Maybe she wouldn't be so resistant. I hardly wanted to hold her down - imagine! Me, Lord of the Western Lands, reduced to forcing a woman to my bed. It was beyond insulting.

I recoiled from the thought.

It would not happen.

"Then let us go."

I spun on my heel quickly and left, forcing her to follow. Only to be stopped short when I heard the doors snap close behind me.

"I'm not dressed yet," she snapped before I could turn back.

Fair enough, I wasn't going to drag her across the yard in a sleeping gown. Even if it did sound appealing - maybe it would humble her a bit. Deep down, I doubted it would do anything but cause her resentment to rise from a simmer to a full rolling boil.

Several strained moments later she opened the door. There was nothing spectacular or breath taking about her, standing there in the doorway. The silk kimono looked too fine a garment for her, Kagome was such an ordinary looking girl.

It didn't matter much to me one way or another really. She was my wife and that was that.

"Let's go."

I hoped she would be cooperative and follow along. To my relief, she did. I didn't really feel like dealing with her bad attitude at the moment. Tranquility was the chief thing on my mind at the moment, although if that's what I wanted seeking out Kagome was a bad idea.

I headed toward the exterior door, stepping out. It was a relatively nice day. It was probably going to rain again; it was that time of year. Rainy. I liked the rain with the notable exception that it made everything muddy.

Everything.

Shoes, feet, clothes, everything.

"Where are we going?"

"Horseback riding."

I discreetly watched her from the corner of my eye. She looked puzzled. "Horseback riding? Why?"

I didn't dignify her with a response, I just walked.

She followed, but signifying her mood, she didn't pester me with questions. Rather, she kept on with her stiffly silent routine. Very well, I thought. I'd break that sooner rather than later. Whether she was obliging on the matter or not.

The horses chosen for the day were already out and being handled by the head groom. The tall, lanky man handed over the reigns of my tall, black stallion without a word and scrambled to help Kagome.

I took careful note of her uneasiness and obvious lack of experience.

"I don't know how to ride a horse." She finally admitted after a moment or so of looking frightened.

"Obviously."

Her lips quirked into a frown.

"Can't we doing something normal?"

I turned away. Across the field I saw my idiot brother and his woman, Kikyo. That was a bad sign, I thought. Maybe I should send her for a bath and instead go back to my office.

My office was my refuge. The perfect place to hide from the idiocy I was continually surrounded with.

I turned my gaze toward Kagome as she was pulled up onto her mare. She looked like she was sitting on a wild beast ready to toss her off and stomp on her. What an amusing creature.

"Going to be defeated by a domesticated animal, Kagome?"

I watched her back straighten and defiance light in her eyes.

"No!"

She gripped the reigns of the horse tightly and, to my absolutely amazement, urged the horse forward.

A miracle of nature, I could've sworn.

The mare moved and Kagome's defiance popped like a balloon replaced by a look of sheer terror.

"How do you stop this thing?" She wailed.

I barely held laughter in check, it couldn't get any better than this, it couldn't!

"Oh no!"

The horse wasn't even at a gallop and she was panicking. I urged my horse to follow along in the enclosed area. It wasn't as though the horse could take off into the wilderness ad she'd be lost forever, but you'd think so with all the fuss she was making.

I was sure she didn't even see the looks the staff was tossing at her, wondering if their new Mistress had gone insane.

I wondered how long it would be before she tried to get off the horse. Would she try? I could do this for a long time, just sit upon my stallion and watch her make a fool of herself. She never seemed properly embarrassed about things though, which sometimes made it less fun than it could've been.

Catching sight of my amused smirk she straightened once more gave it another go. For all of a few minute, she looked completely in control. Only, then the horse started to move faster when she made a movement she'd shouldn't have and panic again set in.

I was barely keeping in my amusement when Inuyasha intervened, stopping the mare and pulling Kagome off. He was about to lead her away when I stopped him.

"Whatever you're thinking, un-think it. She returns to her room."

Kagome whirled around ready to argue. "I am not a dog!"

That was the last thing I was thinking, she'd never looked like a dog. Pet, certainly. Dog, no.

I merely raised an eyebrow while handing over the horse to the groom.

"What are you whining about?"

"I don't want to go back to that stuffy room!" She shouted. "You can't make me!"

Oh... couldn't I?

I turned completely toward her and watched her tense. Sensing danger - she perked and looked around as if searching for escape.

"Oh no!"

Before I could think of what she was doing, she took off on me. I blinked as I watched her run toward the castle before running after her.

This would not do.

No.

Not at all.

I hated sweating. She would be punished for this when I caught up with her.

I blinked, sitting up. Stupid Sesshoumaru, I thought. I was his wife, did he care about that? Noooo!

He didn't care.

He treated me like a bad puppy! Or kid, or something.

Whatever it was, it was inappropriate.

I deserved better.

Well, at least he wasn't beating me, but that wasn't the point. I deserved not to be holed up in my room that was for sure.

I didn't mean to make him angry, at least, not intentionally so. I shouldn't have run off. He chased me down in a matter of minutes.

Short minutes at that and he hadn't been amused at my little stunt. Far from it.

The gleam in his eye was dangerous.

He'd dragged me inside, tossed me in his room and left. Period.

No goodbye, no nothing.

It was a silent 'sit-down-shut-up' kind of message. Yeah, the worst kind.

I plopped down onto the futon mat again.

I was sooo bored! I wanted to scream 'let me out', but I was getting enough strange looks already.

Sesshoumaru didn't help either by treating me the way he did. I think the servants are laughing at us when they retire to bed. I'd tell him that but I'm sure he wouldn't care. That or he'd make some arrogant proclamation or... I don't know.

Why analyze?

Why think?

I damn well couldn't do anything else! I thought irritably.

Let me out! Let me out!

I was almost ready to beg for forgiveness if he'd release me from this room.

Almost.

I stalked down the hall angrily. Damn girl. Damn woman. Where had she come from, a forest? What the hell - running off like that.

I would not do that. I would not chase her around again. Warnings would be issued, punishments dealt.

My scowl felt etched in place.

As I reached my destination the guard slid open the door. Just inside I could barely make out the figure chained to the wall.

I felt my earlier annoyance fade.

"Feeling unwell, Naraku?"

His lips turned into a twisted, devious smile. "Well enough, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Even captive that slithery tongue of his worked. 'Sesshoumaru-sama', I thought as though it meant anything to this insignificant worm at my feet.

"What were you doing with Kagome?"

He picked up his weary head. "Enjoying the stars together," he chirped, lips curled into a smile.

I stared. What a foul man. There hadn't been a time when Naraku wasn't being a royal pain.

"Really, Sesshoumaru-sama, I was just trying to be helpful."

I scowled. Helpful? Stealing my wife away was helpful!?

"I will not allow your interference." I replied, a deadpan tone. "You have been a nuisance to me long enough."

Naraku chuckled, a low, throaty sound, his eyes drifting closed. The epitome of arrogance. I hated arrogance, it was an attribute only allowed to myself.

Naraku had been a member of my court many years. His father, Onigumo, had been suspected of helping my mother escape the castle and he had been banished by my father. But I wasn't going to let that pass.

I was not the merciful man my father had been. I would allow no interference, I would not be doubted. No one would disobey me. Naraku merely got the pleasure of being my sacrifice to the price of obedience.

"I disagree, of course. You will allow my interference. You might get away with keeping me here, but only until the others hear about my treatment. The court will erupt in complete outrage."

I growled at the chained man. "You may have had your way before, but no longer."

I snatched the sword from the guard at the door, grinning in satisfaction as Naraku's eyes widened. Those beady red orbs finally registered some semblance of fear as I approached. My feet tread easy over the floor, no hesitation within me.

I raised the weapon, undaunted by its light weight in my hands and swung in down in one graceful arch.

Blood, a pure crimson color sprayed across the walls. I felt the moisture as it warmed my clothing and touched my face.

If Kagome could see me now, I wondered, would she be horrified?

Her new husband holding a sword, the head of a man at my feet, blood covered clothing. She didn't have the first clue what I was about. She didn't know anything.

"I just heard! Naraku-sama has been killed!"

I straightened by my post at the door. I'd been sitting there listening to people talk as they walked in the hall by my prison, or otherwise called bedroom, door. The door was a pretty thick sliding wood panel, but I'd slid it open a notch to get some sound in.

Had Naraku really been killed?

I pulled my knees up. I'd never been one for etiquette and since I was alone I saw no need to kneel and instead had plopped down on my backside stretching my legs out in front of me.

Surely Sesshoumaru wouldn't have killed Naraku for trying to get me away from the castle? Or, was he really that insecure?

I almost scoffed at the notion of Sesshoumaru being insecure.

"Truly?"

These maids were total idiots, I thought, rolling my eyes. Sometimes they said the stupidest stuff, very melodramatic. That was really quite mild to some of the unbelievable nothings I'd heard while sitting here in the last hour. I was truly amazed.

"Does Sesshoumaru-sama know?"

"Know?!" The other replied. "Of course! I heard directly from Yumi that Sesshoumaru-sama himself killed him! She said she saw him emerge from the room covered in blood. It was even in his hair!"

That couldn't be.

Surely, he was a nut case, but Sesshoumaru couldn't be a murderer. It couldn't be. I leapt to my feet. There was a guard out there, wasn't there? I peered out.

Damn! There was.

Well, I could do two things. I could run for it, or I could wait for him to show up.

I gave it all of thirty seconds of thought before I determined escape was in order. I counted to three, licking my dry lips apprehensively, hand on the wooden door frame ready to throw it open and run for it.

The maids had since moved on, so only the guard remained.

He was on the left side of the doorway, the same direction the door slid, so I'd have to turn right to get a step ahead. I had serious woes about my plan worrying his strides would be longer and I'd be caught in no time, but they weren't enough to stop me from going forward.

On the final count, I threw open the door, startling the man and took off. I yanked my kimono up indecently almost up to mid-thigh as I ran for it. I could hear his footsteps behind me, calling out, his voice sounding more fearful than angry at my attempt.

Panicking at his nearness, I threw open the first door I came to and slammed it shut. I realized at once I'd entered a bath room. The steam of the room warmed my face.

I turned around, feeling relieved he wouldn't follow me inside this room only to find myself face to face with the blood streaked, golden eyed man I'd married.

I gaped.

"Se-Sesshoumaru!"

My hands rose to my open mouth in horror. "What - you didn't actually..."

"Actually what?" He asked, reaching a hand up to his stained hair. "Kill him? Of course I did."
"H... How could you? That's cruel! It's human!"

"Why are you out of your room?" He asked voice bland.

"Don't change the subject," I snapped, venturing closer.

The water of the tub was clear. This wasn't a hot spring as I'd first thought, it was just an imitation. A custom wash basin.

I came closer, keeping my eyes on his, not daring to look anywhere else even though I'd felt all of his body against me before. Seeing it was something else. I'd actually tried not to look.

The dimness of the room made that much easier, but this was totally different. The room wasn't dark, it was broad daylight outside. I could see anything I wanted.

Still, that didn't stop me from pulling the tie on my obi, carefully unwinding the elaborate sash. The effort was easy and it coiled to the floor around me.

Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on me, watching as I slid the delicately patterned kimono to the floor. I shed the undergarments, letting them all lay there discarded. I swear I'd lost my mind when I stepped into the steaming water.

Here I was dropping my clothes to bathe with my husband after hearing he'd just brutally murdered a man, and proof of it right before my eyes.

My heart was thundering, what was I doing? Sesshoumaru never looked away, his eyes bright and intense as I approached.

Stripping naked in front of your husband - no big deal really. Unless of course you were newly married to a stranger, then it was weird. So, again, what was I doing?

It helped, I guess, that he didn't seem to be rejecting me. He had been quite angry at me as of late. I reached up, touching my hand to his upper arm near his shoulder as I came around behind him.

I wasn't really sure what I was doing. I felt so emotionally drained. I'd been everything from angry to desperate and it was seriously wearing on me. Maybe I just wanted to be close to someone and he was all I had. I didn't know.

Was he curious about what I was doing?

No doubt as he tried to turn his head to see me. I reached up, sliding my hands through his hair.

"Even though I know already what kind of ape you really are, you looked so gentle staring at me a minute ago."

I was still sliding my hands through his hair. Most of the stains were at the top of his head. I should be in front of him, but I'd have to raise my arms to get to his hair and I'd feel exposed standing in front of him like that, so I couldn't.

The water was just higher than Sesshoumaru's waist. I couldn't imagine the effort they put in to keep this water warm, but I didn't bother thinking about the mechanics of it all.

He turned, his hair falling from my fingers as he did so.

"I thought I was cruel and inhuman?"

I glanced away. "You are."

"Willing to subject yourself to the desires of a cruel and inhuman man, are you?"
"Well," I replied, with some uncertainty. "Just to you."

I clearly was not thinking at all. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I only meant to lessen the bite of the words I think offended him a little. He, it seemed, was taking that a way I hadn't even thought of.

Okay, I'd thought of it, but not predominantly.

Still, I wasn't scared when he leaned down, his lips sealing against mine. Nor was I frightened when those previously red stained hands pulled me against him.

His heated lips against my skin caused me to warm to his desire. The touch of his hands made me forget any apprehension I may have had as he simply took me over, my voice gone completely unless you counted those pathetic moans and sighs as I lost control of a situation I'd never had a prayer in.

The hands and lips and body of a murderer... I was so lost.

. . .

I didn't understand the girl at all. Her eyes were closed, mouth open slightly, head turned just to the side. She was sprawled against the side of the bath, her legs on either side of me. I was still kneeling over her, my breath heavy.

I didn't understand her at all.

She had clearly escaped her guard, that wasn't much of a surprise coming from her. Still, sliding out of her clothes to join me in the bath was a surprise and I immediately suspected ulterior motives.

I had only been teasing when I mentioned subjecting her to my desires, just to see how she would react. If only to see if she would still back away from me as she had earlier. It was then quite a surprise when she did the opposite, simply submitting, melting in my embrace.

That wasn't the only unusual thing. Her eyes had seemed unfocused, as if she was uncertain of any number of things going on around her. Her hands had faintly trembled as she combed through my hair also, I doubt she noticed it.

I withdrew back from her and she roused, eyes opening, turning toward me. I pulled myself up and she drew her legs beneath her to support her own body as I released her. She didn't stay, she didn't cross her arms across her chest self-consciously, and she didn't turn away. Instead, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around me, pulling her softness against me.

Was there something wrong with her?

She did seem, by her behavior, to be upset about something.

"I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru. I don't have any reason to want to leave you. You haven't been cruel to me; I never planned to run away, regardless of what Naraku said. I'm trying to manage here; can't you give me a little more faith? What have I done to prove you can't trust me at all?"

She drew back to look up at me with the same lost expression she'd had before she entered the tub.

She hadn't done anything I suppose. It was a natural distrust, for her and everyone else. I leaned down to her, pressing a kiss to one cheek and down the side of her jaw. She had such a troubling personality, but she tasted good. Raw.

I liked it.

I drew back completely from her, giving her a grunt of approval. She could take it anyway she wanted it, but it did seem to please her somewhat. I drew myself out of the bath and quickly pulled on a robe by the door.

"You want more faith, woman. Fine." I conceded. "I will send a servant to you, dress yourself and report to my office promptly."

I didn't miss her brilliant smile in reply to my orders, but I did ignore it, stepping out.

She didn't say anything more about Naraku at the moment, but I was sure her annoying sense of righteousness would return when she seemed to rouse down from her unfocused state. Whenever that happened, I could be sure of two things. She would once again push away from my advances and secondly, start running her mouth again.

I was looking forward to neither.

Author's Notes: One chapter to go. Which I'm going to finish writing now. Chapter 7 will be my next update, then I'll move onto the others, "Prisoner, My Prisoner" and "Blind Stitch My Heart". Sorry it's taking so long. ^_^

Reviewer's:

Cassidy Jewell: I know what you mean about 1st person perspective. I very rarely read them myself and I don't, most of the time, like writing them.

ellie: I'm not abandoning any of my works except "Absconding Sorrow", and even that is just going to undergo some major revisions so I can cut out Sesshoumaru and keep it a single Naraku/Kagome storyline. (Possibly, I still haven't decided.)

StoicStella: Yeah, it was Tsuuki (author of "Life Debt") who caught my eye with the lack of perfection between Rin and Kagome. It was a major eye opener for me.

Unfortunately, I felt Kikyo's coming to terms with Kagome was also sudden and was at a loss as to how to fix that. I thought someone might mention it. ^_^

Serendipity1: I've never written a sympathetic character, and I don't think Sesshoumaru could pull it off. ^_^