Authorsnote::sorry I took so long to update. My ideas for this chapter kept changing. It started out sappy and then morphed into...what it is. So sorry...but I appreciate the reviews! I love all of them, so keep reviewing! And the ducky WILL attack someone!
WARNING:this story is sometimes base, and is not meant to be perfect or elegant. If you're looking for something intense, you won't find it here..unless you're looking for intensely weird and pointless. Just a helpful little warning. I wouldn't want to scare anyone now would I? **evil grin** Disclaimer::this is pointless. I will say nothing, as you all KNOW I don't own them. Only the twisted plot belongs to me. And the ducky and monkey. Mwahahaha.
Dedication:: for erik, who inspired me to write again. And for daphne, who helped me sort through my ideas.
OUR HOUSE Chapter 8: 'o' is for the only one I see
Kagome snuggled down into the depths of the couch with a contented sigh, the dreamy expression of the recently-well-fed shining on her face. She was a happy camper.
It had never occured to her that cooking could get any better than her Moms'. Mrs.Higurashi was renowed for her culinary skills, and no one to Kagome's knowledge had ever surpassed her. Kagome had grown up on good food, so she knew what she was talking about when it came to telling the difference between damned-fucking-tasty food and food that was merely digestible.
Sesshou-maru cooked ungodly sublime food.Fan-fucking-tastic.
Kagome closed her eyes and let out a soft croon at the memory of those tasty morsels dissolving in her mouth, teasing her tongue, easing like silky heaven down her throat. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she smiled lazily, tracing circles with her fingertips into the pillow she was hugging.
He rivled her mother, and that was no small feat. He cooked food that just tantalized her senses, bringing her to new levels of sensation. It was an almost SENSUAL experience, the way the flavors seemed to caress her mouth and throat, the way the scents teased her tastebuds and sensory glands. With mom, the food was unbelievably delectable, but it was still just food. It was just a meal. Sesshou-maru made it more than a meal; he made it pleasure.
((a/n:: that is kinky, even for me. @_@ I feel so scandalized.. **covers eyes*..and I'm the one writing this!))
Kagome sank deeper into the cushions, the drone of the television in the background lulling her into a contented daze. It had been hours since she'd eaten, hours since Sango left with the same dazedly-dreamy expression on her face that Kagome now wore, and still the memories of brunch haunted her, like the lingering caress from some experienced lover she'd dreamnt of. She shivered as the memory of a particularily savory morsel took hold of her. She licked her lips, her tongue easing from her mouth to slowly moisturize the yearning flesh.
((a/n:: god, this is like porn!!! I'm freaking myself out here! **waves arms frantically** its erik's influence!! Its not entirely my fault!! My mind is in the gutter because I miss him....wah...**cries** Alright, I will stop with the scary sensuous experience of Sesshies cooking for now. I'll save that for later! Kinky sex! Ahem...well...MAYBE kinky sex. For now, I take my usual method of inflicting my readers with weird mayhem! Mwahahahhahaha! From sex to rubber duckies, all in one chapter!!mwahahhaha! **coughs** yeah, anyway. On with the story...))
."squeak squeak!"
Kagome's eyes snapped open, jarring her from her delicious fantasies. Disoriented and a little peeved at being interrupted, she rolled her body around on the couch so that she faced the kitchen door. Dangling from the edge of the couch, she could see the checkered pattern of the floor and the very end corner of the kitchen table. Faintly she could hear the clank of dishes and the sound of running water spashing. Sesshou-maru was still cleaning up. He'd insisted on doing all the cooking AND the cleaning, ushering her into her current couch-potatoe position in the living room and handing her the remote. She was under strict orders not to help, and she'd been too dazed from the food to protest. But that had been hours ago, and she was capable of independent movement again. She leaned further over the edge of the couch, wondering what the hell that noise had been.
."squeak squeak!"
Kagome blanched. What the hell???
She had to know. Kagome, fueled by the curiousity that usually got her into trouble and had gotten her involved with Kouga, uncurled from her nest of pillows, oozing from couch to floor and stumbling her way to the doorway. She didn't understand why she found that noise quite so unnerving, but now she was determined to find out no matter how affected she was by post-brunch flashbacks. She peeked into the kitchen.
Sesshou-maru was dancing. A fluffy floral apron tied around his waist, his hair in a silver ponytail trailing down his back, toned arms flexing as he got out a particularily troublesome spot on a pan, Sesshou-maru jiggled his butt cheerfully and twirled. Sesshou...maru...was DANCING.
Her eyes widened to the size of the dinner plates she had so recently eaten off of.
And SINGING.
."Rubber ducky, you're the one!"
Sesshou-maru wiggled about, shaking the ass that resided within scandalously clingy jeans, lacy apron fluffing around him. His feet were tapping cheerfully, and he was swaying to a beat only he could hear. Beside him on the counter, sat an innocent, blue-eyed rubber ducky.
Kagome flushed at the sight of the ducky. The last time she had seen it, Sesshou-maru had burst into her room clad in a towel, all slick and----suddenly Kagome was bombarded with vivid hentai memories:
Bubbles...slick skin...moistened..chest..long..legs..sculpted genit---
Oh, good christ, not again!! NO! She shook her head vigorously to chase the images agay. No more fantasies!! He was a friend. A FRIEND. Kagme grit her teeth and stared at Sesshou-maru's rear, determined not to be tantalized. After a few minutes of 'I spy with my little eye a cute little Sesshy bun', her shoulders sagged in defeat and she wearily accepted that she thought her roomy was hot. She shook her head and sniffled, feeling miffed. Goddamn his tastiness.
Kagome shook her head again, snapping out of her trance as Fluffy continued his song.
."You make bathtime lots of fun!" he chirped, twirling, sending soap suds from the sink flying across the kitchen.
."squeak squeak!"
Kagome recoiled in horror and toppled backwards. She covered her eyes with both hands, moaning softly as terror froze her blood. No, oh GOD, it COULDN'T have...
But it had.
The ducky, an inanimate object, had moved. Had SUNG!
She gulped, suddenly feeling very, very afraid.
For now she was faced with three problems. (1) she was being tormented by her ex-boyfriend, who, despite the fact that he currently had no idea where she was, continued to haunt her thoughts. (2) she was attracted to the older man she was now living with. Had, in fact, strategized the removal of his clothing with her teeth throughout the course of the afternoon. Had also entertained fantasies of walking in during one of those baths he liked to indulge himself in and tucking herself into the tub with him. These facts alone would most definitely complicate her life. But then she had the THIRD problem: (3) the ducky was alive. The goddamn, motherfucking, squeaky BATH TOY, was alive.
And at the moment, Kagome was more worried about her last problem than the other two. Her terror of inanimate objects coming to life had yet to be surpassed by any other phobia, and now she was LIVING IN A HOUSE with a chucky-wannabe, who would, undoubtably, attack her in her sleep on that very night! She shivered. Why did she always have to be put into these types of situations??? Why couldn't her life just be normal and calm??? RUBBER DUCKIES WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ALIVE!!!!
."Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of you! Do-do-be do!"
Kagome blinked. Sesshou-maru was singing again. A ducky song! And in that adorable voice...in an APRON!Temporarily forgetting her terror of the ducky, she peeked into the kitchen again, unable to contain herself.
((a/n:: I mean, come ON, would YOU stay hidden in another room when Fluffy was dancing around in tight pants, almost NO shirt, and and APRON???? I think NOT! I know I wouldn't....mwahhahahahhaah..naked fluffy..happy thoughts.lala))
The ducky had turned its devoted blue eyes from its chirping master. In fact, it had moved its entire body. It was now facing the door, its bright yellow body sitting innocently, serenely even, on the countertop.
The ducky was staring at her.
Kagome's blood froze in her veins and she 'eeped!' and hid behind the door again. Peeking had sooo not been a good idea. Why had she looked?? Sesshy's bum was not worth the terror that ducky inspired in her, no matter how delectable Fluffy was!
."Rubber ducky, you're so fine."
Sesshy had begun to sing again, but this time, there was no answering 'squeak squeak!' to seranade him. Kagome bit her lip, and sweat began to bead on her brow. Oh, God, what had happened in that kitchen??? Why hadn't the damned ducky harmonized yet???
."I'll make bathtime all the time!"
Sesshou-maru continued the song, and still so answering squeak followed the tune. Kagome swallowed, wondering why her heart had just plummetted into her stomach. She had to know...She peered into the kitchen again---and choked back a shriek.
The ducky had moved. It was now on the kitchen table, facing her. It glared malevolently at her, painted blue eyes flashing, its little orange bill widening into the most evil smile she had ever seen, flashing a hint very un-ducky-like fang. Duckies didn't have fangs, right? RIGHT???
Kagome, in her terror-stricken state, did the only thing she could think of: with a wail of 'I want my monkeeyyyyyyy!!' that startled Sesshou-maru from his happy cleaning daze, she bolted down the hallway, into her room, and slammed the door shut behind her. On the verge of hyperventalating, she dove into the small mountain of her personal belongings on the floor, viciously tearing open a box and throwing random peraphenilia across the room. It took her awhile, and several more boxes, but she eventually found the objects of her obsessive search: her stuffed monkey, and a 2-liter jug of tequila.
With a cry of relief and tearful joy, she hugged them both. Whimpering slightly, Kagome unscrewed the cap of the Tequila bottle, rolled her eyes heavenward and mouthed 'Lord, give me strength', and chugged a quarter of the alcohol down. It burned her throat, hitting her stomach in an explosion that rocked her, tearing a shaky gasp from her mouth. Tears running down her face, Kagome took another swig, downing another eigth of the bottle in one painful gulp. Her vision blurred for a moment, and she swayed unsteadily in her perch on the edge of her bed. When she could see, and the pleasant, steady warmth of the booze burned through her thoroughly, Kagome looked from monkey, to tequila bottle, to the mess she'd made of her room---and graced a very perplexed universe with a dreamy smile.
She hiccuped twice.
And then continued to smile.
Yes, Kagome thought fuzzily, she was feeling very brave now.
."I'm feeling very brave now." She informed her stuffed monkey.
The monkey stared up at her solemnly, saying nothing. It, like and yet unlike the evil rubber ducky of doom, was also very mysterious that way.
Kagome, in fact, was feeling SO very brave, that she heaved herself up to her feet and stumbled to the door, fully confident that, armed as she was with a huge (and nearly half empty) bottle of tequila AND her miraculous stuffed monkey, a stupid evil rubber ducky could no longer harm her. She was now evil-rubber-ducky PROOF. She opened her door (after several clumsy failed attempts), flung it open, and glared triumphantly at an unsuspecting hallway. The hallway cringed. She was, indeed, a very determined Kagome.
But what she saw stopped her dead in her tracks.
The.ducky. was. Sitting. Outside. Her. ROOM!!!!!!
Kagome let out a bloodcurdling scream of terror and slammed the door to her room shut.
***
Sesshou-maru started at the sound of Kagome's scream, his grip on a large plate slipping, sending the dish to the floor where it shattered. He winced as it fell, but his mourning of the plate was shortlived as the sound of a door slamming following that scream, jolted him back into reality. Brows furrowed, he set down his scrub cloth, wiping suddy hands against his apron, and made his way out of the kitchen and down the hall.
He paused and blinked, tilting his head to the side. No, it couldn't have..
Sesshou-maru opened his eyes again, now competely confused. Why was his rubber ducky outside Kagome's bedroom door?? And he could have sworn it had just been clawing at her door. Which was completely odd as it was just a toy, and not an animmate object capable of clawing at her door with seeming malicious intent.
He shook his head and looked again. The ducky WAS there, but it was only sitting outside her door, not clawing at it. Puzzled, he walked up to her bedroom door and listened. Inside, he could hear the sound of muffled sobs. Alarmed, Sesshou-maru yanked the door open and stepped inside, images of a harmed Kagome flooding his senses and bringing him into a protective rage.
He had barely registered her form cringing beside the bed when she screamed,"CLOSE THE DOOR!!", and he, too startled to question her, slammed the door shut behind him.
Instantly Kagome launched herself at him and Sesshou-maru found himself on the floor with a wailing Kagome straddling him and writhing around in his lap. Under different circumstances, he would have enjoyed the stradling and wriggling more, would have, in fact, participated in it, but he had the feeling that this girl was not in the mood to play."Kagome! hey! Kagome!" he gripped her arms and held her still, giving her a little shake."What's wrong??"
From beneath a tangled mass of black hair, Kagome sniffled, hiccupped, and pushed her hair out of her face."Your ducky..."she sniffled," is trying to KILL ME!!!!" the last part came out a wail and she writhed again, but Sesshou-maru didn't hear it. He was too busy gaping at the girl who had appeared from beneath a mass of tangled black hair.
Kagome's cheeks were flushed and shiny, her grey-blue eyes luminious as heavy tears ran down her cheeks to splatter his shirt. Her lips looked full and bruised, pouting and quivering with suppressed emotions. She trembled against him, looking small and waifish and pitiful, and her strong hands clutched his shirt as if he were the only stable thing in the universe. She clung to him, so soft and small, and all he could think was how suddenly perfect she was.
Sesshou-maru's heart lurched painfully in his chest at the sight, and he swallowed the lump that had somehow developed in his throat.
She was so beautiful...
His heart was pounding in his chest as he stared into those endless blue eyes, so full of fear and relief as they gazed at him, and he felt some unfamiliar emotion welling up from deep inside him. Oh, God, but she was so beautiful...
Unbidden, his hand released her arm and he reached up to cup one tear-stained cheek, tenderly smoothing the soft flesh with his thumb. She hiccupped softly, now quiet even as the tears continued to flow, and he reached up with his other hand to hold her small face between his palms."Don't cry, Kagome." He murmured, his voice trembling slightly."Please don't cry."
Her lips were quivering, but the tears had stopped as she swallowed them down. He smiled at her shyly, filled with a sudden joy at the sight of her, and that smile blossomed into a steady grin as that strange emotion welled up and spilled out of him. The sound of her shaky breathing filled his ears, those soft little gasps, and before he knew what he was doing, Sesshou-maru found himself leaning closer to her, his hands traveling down from her face to wrap around her in a loose, if not tender, embrace. She was gazing at him now with a kind of quiet wonder on her face, and the expression filled him with an inexplicable happiness. He held her, still smiling, rubbing her back with a soothing hand."Shh," he whispered."Don't cry. It's okay. Nothing's going to hurt you." And her smile shifted into the wolfish grin she'd graced him with when first they'd met, and all he could do was grin right back.
((a/n:: **sighs dreamily** they just had a moment together....lalala..la. and I didn't get bored writing it. Quite the contrary, in fact. Writing that scene has made me very happy. Mwahahahaa. You thought they were going to kiss, didn't you? Mwahahahaaha. Not yet, kiddies. Not quite yet. They just..truly noticed each other for the first time.))
scritch stritch.
Kagome's smile froze, breaking the spell that had bound them. Sesshou-maru held her tighter convulsively."Kagome, what---ã
She held up a hand to silence him."Wait a sec" she said, staring intently at the door behind him, her eyes narrowing.
Scritch scritch scritch. Scuffle scritch.
Kagome squeaked suddenly and clutched at his shirt."Oh my god!" she cried, looking horrified.
Alarmed, Sesshou-maru held her tighter."kagome, whats wrong?" She made a tiny moan that sounded suspiciously like, 'duckies attacking me...', and buried her face into his neck. He gasped at the feel of her hot, erratic breath against his neck, and his eyes rolled back in his head before he could help himself. He felt a jolt low in his body and his eyes flew open."KAGOME!" he roared, pulling her off his neck. Unfortunetely, the act made her wriggle further against his midsection, causing all sorts of dangerous things to happen to him, and he let out a strangled gasp.
."What is going on, kagome?" he snarled brokenly, fighting his body's reaction to the squirming female in his lap. He would not take advantage of her he would not take advantage of her he would not...
."YOUR RUBBER DUCKY WANTS TO KIIIIIILLL MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" she wailed.
THAT stopped him. He gaped at her."what?"
Scritch scritch scuffle scritch SQUEAK!
Sesshou-maru jumped, half turning his body to the door."What the hell was that???"
Kagome flung herself off his lap and dove behind the bed."It's the DUCKY." She said ominously as she peeked over the edge of her bed."It wants to kill me." She added before ducking back behind the bed.
He blinked, confused, glancing from the bed to the door. He grit his teeth and leveled kagome with a glare. THIS was what she was so terrified of?? His rubber DUCKY?"Oh, for the love of.." he opened the door, rolling his eyes and muttering curses."Look," he said to her," no duck-----gyah!What the HELL???"
."SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!!!!!!" The rubber ducky pounced, its blue eyes turned crimson, filled with an unholy light. It slammed against Sesshou-maru's chest, and he let out a yell of fright and stumbled backwards, tripping over his feet and toppling to the floor. His eyes were huge as he watched his rubber ducky crawl across the floor, making hideous baby crocidile noises, flashing sharp fangs that should not have been there. Terror clogged his throat.
."SQUEAK!"the ducky roared piercingly as it leapt up onto the bed and made its waddling way toward Kagome.
Sesshou-maru's mouth had fallen open and his face was frozen in horror. THIS was the ducky he had taken many a happy bath with?? THIS was his bubble friend of old??
."SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!!!"
."GYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh!!! Stay away from meeeeeeeeeee!!!" Kagome screamed from the other side of the bed. Sesshou-maru unfroze at the sound of pure terror in her voice. Protective male instincts once again roared through him, chasing out the icy fear of his rubber ducky, and giving him strength to move. He dove for the bed, catching hold of the ducky and flinging it as it writhed and bit at him, across the room. It hit the wall with a 'squeak!' and was silent.
((a/n:: @_@. How very morbid... ))
Sesshou-maru crawled across the bed to peer over the side at Kagome, who had gone oddly silent as well. He found her backed into a corner, clutching a stuffed spidermonkey and chugging down a huge bottle of tequilla. He crawled over the edge of the bed and gently took the bottle away. She gave a little cry of protest, sniffled, and then huddled into the corner, hugging her monkey tightly. He reached for her, and she came crawling toward him clumsily. She collapsed into his lap, burying her face into his stomach.
."I TOLD you the ducky was tryn' ta kill me."she sniffled indignantly."Stupid snarly male.."she hiccupped, which felt very strange considering her face was pressed into his stomach."wah." she said angrily, and wrapped her arms around his waist, burrowing deeper into his middle
Feeling a bit uncomfortable with a saucy female nuzzling his midsection, Sesshou-maru searched for something else to focus on. His eyes found the tequilla bottle. It was more than half empty. His eyes widened, and he looked from the bottle, to the disgruntled female in his lap. His eyebrows shot up."Kagome?"
."Mmphm?" she mumbled into his stomach, setting off all kinds of fluttery feelings in him. He winced and gently disentangled her arms from his waist, proping her up so that she wasn't so dangerously close to nuzzling his unmentionables.
."Kagome, did you drink that whole bottle by yourself?"
He felt her nodd, and she turned her head and smiled up at him drunkenly."All by m'yself."she said proudly, beaming up at him.
He fought back a smile and fixed his face into a stern expression."You're drunk." He accused.
She stuck her tongue out at him."Maybe. The ducky was scary."
."Yes, it was." He replied, absently petting her hair. She had soft hair.
."I have a monkey."
."I'm very glad."
."Do you have a monkey?"
."Sadly, no."
."oh. do you WANT a monkey?"
."I cannot honestly say that I have ever thought of it."
She pondered this, looked from her monkey, and then back to him, chewed her lip, and then said,"You can borrow mine since your ducky died."
He looked down at her, smiling faintly, and she beamed back up at him. He melted."Kagome, I--,"
Her eyes were closing. Fluttering shut as her breathing evened out. She let out a heavy sigh of satisfaction, her lips curving into a slight smile. She hooked her fingers onto his shirt, cuddled up against his chest, and slept.
((a/n:: ahh, the convience of Kagme passing out in mid-scene.))
He watched her for a little while, listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing, lost in thought. Sesshou-maru shifted her so that she was pressed more comfortably to him, and carefully stroked her cheek with his fingertips."Kagome," he murmured softly. Sesshou-maru leaned back against the wall and sighed, staring off into space."Dammit."
He sighed again in resignation and gathered her up into his arms, struggling to his feet. Gently he laid her down on the mattress, carefully arranging her in what he thought was a comfortable position. He sat at the edge of the bed, watching her, chewing his lip thoughtfully.
Sesshou-maru let out an irritated huff."Ah, what the hell." He muttered, and leaned over to press his lips to her forehead. The skin was silk beneath his mouth. He trembled slightly, silently fighting himself, before giving in and kissing her cheek. And as soon as he'd done it, he wanted more. He kissed the corner of her mouth, and he shuddered. No, no, he shouldn't..he couldn't...His mouth hovered over hers, so close, so very close. He was shaking, a fine trembling throughout his whole body. He wanted this. God, he wanted this. And she would never know. Never know that he had stolen just one kiss. Just one.... He clenched his hand into a fist on the mattress and shoved himself away."No." he told no one in particular.
With an angry scowl, he walked to the door, picking up his fallen ducky, and silently closed the door behind him.
____________________________________
Night had fallen upon the world, the shadows guzzling down the last pools of light until there was nothing left but darkness. The only light for miles was nestled deep within a forest of trees, on top a small hill, hidden, for the most part, from the rest of the world. A man in a large van, one of the few who knew of this haven, made his speedy way up the dirt road that led to the house. The headlights from his vehicle knifed through the suffocating darkness, spearing a path through the shadows. He could have driven without the headlights; he knew the road by heart, and he had exceptional eyesight. But he kept them on for the sake of any possible unsuspecting travelers. He'd been raised to courtesy, and he stuck to it most of the time. When he'd reached his destination he pulled up into the driveway behind the house and hiked up the path. The porchlight was on, which puzzled him, but didn't worry him too much. Miroku tended to lend the house to a lot of people, so there was always one person or another staying over. And as long as they didn't invade his space, he really didn't care.
The man dug a key from his pocket, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. The kitchen was rich with the lingering scent of delicious foods. He enhaled deeply, closing his eyes. There was only one person he knew who could cook a meal and have the scent linger for so long and yet remain so poignant. He smiled. Well, that solves the question of who was staying over.
The man went through the fridge until he found what he wanted, ate it, and then went to the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he paused and stared at his reflection. He'd been on the road for a long time now, and damn, but it showed. He sighed, swiping his hand across his reflection, not wanting to see.
Midnight found him in his room as he carelessly tossed his duffel bag on the floor. He'd bring up his other belongings in the morning.
He removed his clothing clumsily, feeling weary and sore from the long drive, and wanting nothing more than the comfort of his own bed after so long sleeping in hotel rooms or his van. He slipped beneath the covers of his bed with a soft contented sigh, quickly falling into sleep. And if there was someone snoring softly beside him, he didn't notice.
____________________________________
endnote:: hmm...well, that was different. I seem to be getting into the plot, finally. This chapter seems to have more sap and mayhem than humor. Ah, well, its IS also a romance fic, after all.Moving along...**sighs** so stupid. It took me two months of moodiness to get myself into writing-mode, and then two days to get an idea and write this goddamn chapter. I wrote almost the entire freaking thing TODAY! Good christ. Thankyou to all my readers, who somehow continued to review and read my story despite the fact that it was thoroughly buried beneath the hundreds of other fics that actually get updated. The inu-yasha archive has been going nuts lately. Special thanks to erik, who took away my continuous depression and gave me peace and love in its stead. Ahh, the sappiness. Well, onward ho. On to the next chappie.
WARNING:this story is sometimes base, and is not meant to be perfect or elegant. If you're looking for something intense, you won't find it here..unless you're looking for intensely weird and pointless. Just a helpful little warning. I wouldn't want to scare anyone now would I? **evil grin** Disclaimer::this is pointless. I will say nothing, as you all KNOW I don't own them. Only the twisted plot belongs to me. And the ducky and monkey. Mwahahaha.
Dedication:: for erik, who inspired me to write again. And for daphne, who helped me sort through my ideas.
OUR HOUSE Chapter 8: 'o' is for the only one I see
Kagome snuggled down into the depths of the couch with a contented sigh, the dreamy expression of the recently-well-fed shining on her face. She was a happy camper.
It had never occured to her that cooking could get any better than her Moms'. Mrs.Higurashi was renowed for her culinary skills, and no one to Kagome's knowledge had ever surpassed her. Kagome had grown up on good food, so she knew what she was talking about when it came to telling the difference between damned-fucking-tasty food and food that was merely digestible.
Sesshou-maru cooked ungodly sublime food.Fan-fucking-tastic.
Kagome closed her eyes and let out a soft croon at the memory of those tasty morsels dissolving in her mouth, teasing her tongue, easing like silky heaven down her throat. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she smiled lazily, tracing circles with her fingertips into the pillow she was hugging.
He rivled her mother, and that was no small feat. He cooked food that just tantalized her senses, bringing her to new levels of sensation. It was an almost SENSUAL experience, the way the flavors seemed to caress her mouth and throat, the way the scents teased her tastebuds and sensory glands. With mom, the food was unbelievably delectable, but it was still just food. It was just a meal. Sesshou-maru made it more than a meal; he made it pleasure.
((a/n:: that is kinky, even for me. @_@ I feel so scandalized.. **covers eyes*..and I'm the one writing this!))
Kagome sank deeper into the cushions, the drone of the television in the background lulling her into a contented daze. It had been hours since she'd eaten, hours since Sango left with the same dazedly-dreamy expression on her face that Kagome now wore, and still the memories of brunch haunted her, like the lingering caress from some experienced lover she'd dreamnt of. She shivered as the memory of a particularily savory morsel took hold of her. She licked her lips, her tongue easing from her mouth to slowly moisturize the yearning flesh.
((a/n:: god, this is like porn!!! I'm freaking myself out here! **waves arms frantically** its erik's influence!! Its not entirely my fault!! My mind is in the gutter because I miss him....wah...**cries** Alright, I will stop with the scary sensuous experience of Sesshies cooking for now. I'll save that for later! Kinky sex! Ahem...well...MAYBE kinky sex. For now, I take my usual method of inflicting my readers with weird mayhem! Mwahahahhahaha! From sex to rubber duckies, all in one chapter!!mwahahhaha! **coughs** yeah, anyway. On with the story...))
."squeak squeak!"
Kagome's eyes snapped open, jarring her from her delicious fantasies. Disoriented and a little peeved at being interrupted, she rolled her body around on the couch so that she faced the kitchen door. Dangling from the edge of the couch, she could see the checkered pattern of the floor and the very end corner of the kitchen table. Faintly she could hear the clank of dishes and the sound of running water spashing. Sesshou-maru was still cleaning up. He'd insisted on doing all the cooking AND the cleaning, ushering her into her current couch-potatoe position in the living room and handing her the remote. She was under strict orders not to help, and she'd been too dazed from the food to protest. But that had been hours ago, and she was capable of independent movement again. She leaned further over the edge of the couch, wondering what the hell that noise had been.
."squeak squeak!"
Kagome blanched. What the hell???
She had to know. Kagome, fueled by the curiousity that usually got her into trouble and had gotten her involved with Kouga, uncurled from her nest of pillows, oozing from couch to floor and stumbling her way to the doorway. She didn't understand why she found that noise quite so unnerving, but now she was determined to find out no matter how affected she was by post-brunch flashbacks. She peeked into the kitchen.
Sesshou-maru was dancing. A fluffy floral apron tied around his waist, his hair in a silver ponytail trailing down his back, toned arms flexing as he got out a particularily troublesome spot on a pan, Sesshou-maru jiggled his butt cheerfully and twirled. Sesshou...maru...was DANCING.
Her eyes widened to the size of the dinner plates she had so recently eaten off of.
And SINGING.
."Rubber ducky, you're the one!"
Sesshou-maru wiggled about, shaking the ass that resided within scandalously clingy jeans, lacy apron fluffing around him. His feet were tapping cheerfully, and he was swaying to a beat only he could hear. Beside him on the counter, sat an innocent, blue-eyed rubber ducky.
Kagome flushed at the sight of the ducky. The last time she had seen it, Sesshou-maru had burst into her room clad in a towel, all slick and----suddenly Kagome was bombarded with vivid hentai memories:
Bubbles...slick skin...moistened..chest..long..legs..sculpted genit---
Oh, good christ, not again!! NO! She shook her head vigorously to chase the images agay. No more fantasies!! He was a friend. A FRIEND. Kagme grit her teeth and stared at Sesshou-maru's rear, determined not to be tantalized. After a few minutes of 'I spy with my little eye a cute little Sesshy bun', her shoulders sagged in defeat and she wearily accepted that she thought her roomy was hot. She shook her head and sniffled, feeling miffed. Goddamn his tastiness.
Kagome shook her head again, snapping out of her trance as Fluffy continued his song.
."You make bathtime lots of fun!" he chirped, twirling, sending soap suds from the sink flying across the kitchen.
."squeak squeak!"
Kagome recoiled in horror and toppled backwards. She covered her eyes with both hands, moaning softly as terror froze her blood. No, oh GOD, it COULDN'T have...
But it had.
The ducky, an inanimate object, had moved. Had SUNG!
She gulped, suddenly feeling very, very afraid.
For now she was faced with three problems. (1) she was being tormented by her ex-boyfriend, who, despite the fact that he currently had no idea where she was, continued to haunt her thoughts. (2) she was attracted to the older man she was now living with. Had, in fact, strategized the removal of his clothing with her teeth throughout the course of the afternoon. Had also entertained fantasies of walking in during one of those baths he liked to indulge himself in and tucking herself into the tub with him. These facts alone would most definitely complicate her life. But then she had the THIRD problem: (3) the ducky was alive. The goddamn, motherfucking, squeaky BATH TOY, was alive.
And at the moment, Kagome was more worried about her last problem than the other two. Her terror of inanimate objects coming to life had yet to be surpassed by any other phobia, and now she was LIVING IN A HOUSE with a chucky-wannabe, who would, undoubtably, attack her in her sleep on that very night! She shivered. Why did she always have to be put into these types of situations??? Why couldn't her life just be normal and calm??? RUBBER DUCKIES WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ALIVE!!!!
."Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of you! Do-do-be do!"
Kagome blinked. Sesshou-maru was singing again. A ducky song! And in that adorable voice...in an APRON!Temporarily forgetting her terror of the ducky, she peeked into the kitchen again, unable to contain herself.
((a/n:: I mean, come ON, would YOU stay hidden in another room when Fluffy was dancing around in tight pants, almost NO shirt, and and APRON???? I think NOT! I know I wouldn't....mwahhahahahhaah..naked fluffy..happy thoughts.lala))
The ducky had turned its devoted blue eyes from its chirping master. In fact, it had moved its entire body. It was now facing the door, its bright yellow body sitting innocently, serenely even, on the countertop.
The ducky was staring at her.
Kagome's blood froze in her veins and she 'eeped!' and hid behind the door again. Peeking had sooo not been a good idea. Why had she looked?? Sesshy's bum was not worth the terror that ducky inspired in her, no matter how delectable Fluffy was!
."Rubber ducky, you're so fine."
Sesshy had begun to sing again, but this time, there was no answering 'squeak squeak!' to seranade him. Kagome bit her lip, and sweat began to bead on her brow. Oh, God, what had happened in that kitchen??? Why hadn't the damned ducky harmonized yet???
."I'll make bathtime all the time!"
Sesshou-maru continued the song, and still so answering squeak followed the tune. Kagome swallowed, wondering why her heart had just plummetted into her stomach. She had to know...She peered into the kitchen again---and choked back a shriek.
The ducky had moved. It was now on the kitchen table, facing her. It glared malevolently at her, painted blue eyes flashing, its little orange bill widening into the most evil smile she had ever seen, flashing a hint very un-ducky-like fang. Duckies didn't have fangs, right? RIGHT???
Kagome, in her terror-stricken state, did the only thing she could think of: with a wail of 'I want my monkeeyyyyyyy!!' that startled Sesshou-maru from his happy cleaning daze, she bolted down the hallway, into her room, and slammed the door shut behind her. On the verge of hyperventalating, she dove into the small mountain of her personal belongings on the floor, viciously tearing open a box and throwing random peraphenilia across the room. It took her awhile, and several more boxes, but she eventually found the objects of her obsessive search: her stuffed monkey, and a 2-liter jug of tequila.
With a cry of relief and tearful joy, she hugged them both. Whimpering slightly, Kagome unscrewed the cap of the Tequila bottle, rolled her eyes heavenward and mouthed 'Lord, give me strength', and chugged a quarter of the alcohol down. It burned her throat, hitting her stomach in an explosion that rocked her, tearing a shaky gasp from her mouth. Tears running down her face, Kagome took another swig, downing another eigth of the bottle in one painful gulp. Her vision blurred for a moment, and she swayed unsteadily in her perch on the edge of her bed. When she could see, and the pleasant, steady warmth of the booze burned through her thoroughly, Kagome looked from monkey, to tequila bottle, to the mess she'd made of her room---and graced a very perplexed universe with a dreamy smile.
She hiccuped twice.
And then continued to smile.
Yes, Kagome thought fuzzily, she was feeling very brave now.
."I'm feeling very brave now." She informed her stuffed monkey.
The monkey stared up at her solemnly, saying nothing. It, like and yet unlike the evil rubber ducky of doom, was also very mysterious that way.
Kagome, in fact, was feeling SO very brave, that she heaved herself up to her feet and stumbled to the door, fully confident that, armed as she was with a huge (and nearly half empty) bottle of tequila AND her miraculous stuffed monkey, a stupid evil rubber ducky could no longer harm her. She was now evil-rubber-ducky PROOF. She opened her door (after several clumsy failed attempts), flung it open, and glared triumphantly at an unsuspecting hallway. The hallway cringed. She was, indeed, a very determined Kagome.
But what she saw stopped her dead in her tracks.
The.ducky. was. Sitting. Outside. Her. ROOM!!!!!!
Kagome let out a bloodcurdling scream of terror and slammed the door to her room shut.
***
Sesshou-maru started at the sound of Kagome's scream, his grip on a large plate slipping, sending the dish to the floor where it shattered. He winced as it fell, but his mourning of the plate was shortlived as the sound of a door slamming following that scream, jolted him back into reality. Brows furrowed, he set down his scrub cloth, wiping suddy hands against his apron, and made his way out of the kitchen and down the hall.
He paused and blinked, tilting his head to the side. No, it couldn't have..
Sesshou-maru opened his eyes again, now competely confused. Why was his rubber ducky outside Kagome's bedroom door?? And he could have sworn it had just been clawing at her door. Which was completely odd as it was just a toy, and not an animmate object capable of clawing at her door with seeming malicious intent.
He shook his head and looked again. The ducky WAS there, but it was only sitting outside her door, not clawing at it. Puzzled, he walked up to her bedroom door and listened. Inside, he could hear the sound of muffled sobs. Alarmed, Sesshou-maru yanked the door open and stepped inside, images of a harmed Kagome flooding his senses and bringing him into a protective rage.
He had barely registered her form cringing beside the bed when she screamed,"CLOSE THE DOOR!!", and he, too startled to question her, slammed the door shut behind him.
Instantly Kagome launched herself at him and Sesshou-maru found himself on the floor with a wailing Kagome straddling him and writhing around in his lap. Under different circumstances, he would have enjoyed the stradling and wriggling more, would have, in fact, participated in it, but he had the feeling that this girl was not in the mood to play."Kagome! hey! Kagome!" he gripped her arms and held her still, giving her a little shake."What's wrong??"
From beneath a tangled mass of black hair, Kagome sniffled, hiccupped, and pushed her hair out of her face."Your ducky..."she sniffled," is trying to KILL ME!!!!" the last part came out a wail and she writhed again, but Sesshou-maru didn't hear it. He was too busy gaping at the girl who had appeared from beneath a mass of tangled black hair.
Kagome's cheeks were flushed and shiny, her grey-blue eyes luminious as heavy tears ran down her cheeks to splatter his shirt. Her lips looked full and bruised, pouting and quivering with suppressed emotions. She trembled against him, looking small and waifish and pitiful, and her strong hands clutched his shirt as if he were the only stable thing in the universe. She clung to him, so soft and small, and all he could think was how suddenly perfect she was.
Sesshou-maru's heart lurched painfully in his chest at the sight, and he swallowed the lump that had somehow developed in his throat.
She was so beautiful...
His heart was pounding in his chest as he stared into those endless blue eyes, so full of fear and relief as they gazed at him, and he felt some unfamiliar emotion welling up from deep inside him. Oh, God, but she was so beautiful...
Unbidden, his hand released her arm and he reached up to cup one tear-stained cheek, tenderly smoothing the soft flesh with his thumb. She hiccupped softly, now quiet even as the tears continued to flow, and he reached up with his other hand to hold her small face between his palms."Don't cry, Kagome." He murmured, his voice trembling slightly."Please don't cry."
Her lips were quivering, but the tears had stopped as she swallowed them down. He smiled at her shyly, filled with a sudden joy at the sight of her, and that smile blossomed into a steady grin as that strange emotion welled up and spilled out of him. The sound of her shaky breathing filled his ears, those soft little gasps, and before he knew what he was doing, Sesshou-maru found himself leaning closer to her, his hands traveling down from her face to wrap around her in a loose, if not tender, embrace. She was gazing at him now with a kind of quiet wonder on her face, and the expression filled him with an inexplicable happiness. He held her, still smiling, rubbing her back with a soothing hand."Shh," he whispered."Don't cry. It's okay. Nothing's going to hurt you." And her smile shifted into the wolfish grin she'd graced him with when first they'd met, and all he could do was grin right back.
((a/n:: **sighs dreamily** they just had a moment together....lalala..la. and I didn't get bored writing it. Quite the contrary, in fact. Writing that scene has made me very happy. Mwahahahaa. You thought they were going to kiss, didn't you? Mwahahahaaha. Not yet, kiddies. Not quite yet. They just..truly noticed each other for the first time.))
scritch stritch.
Kagome's smile froze, breaking the spell that had bound them. Sesshou-maru held her tighter convulsively."Kagome, what---ã
She held up a hand to silence him."Wait a sec" she said, staring intently at the door behind him, her eyes narrowing.
Scritch scritch scritch. Scuffle scritch.
Kagome squeaked suddenly and clutched at his shirt."Oh my god!" she cried, looking horrified.
Alarmed, Sesshou-maru held her tighter."kagome, whats wrong?" She made a tiny moan that sounded suspiciously like, 'duckies attacking me...', and buried her face into his neck. He gasped at the feel of her hot, erratic breath against his neck, and his eyes rolled back in his head before he could help himself. He felt a jolt low in his body and his eyes flew open."KAGOME!" he roared, pulling her off his neck. Unfortunetely, the act made her wriggle further against his midsection, causing all sorts of dangerous things to happen to him, and he let out a strangled gasp.
."What is going on, kagome?" he snarled brokenly, fighting his body's reaction to the squirming female in his lap. He would not take advantage of her he would not take advantage of her he would not...
."YOUR RUBBER DUCKY WANTS TO KIIIIIILLL MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" she wailed.
THAT stopped him. He gaped at her."what?"
Scritch scritch scuffle scritch SQUEAK!
Sesshou-maru jumped, half turning his body to the door."What the hell was that???"
Kagome flung herself off his lap and dove behind the bed."It's the DUCKY." She said ominously as she peeked over the edge of her bed."It wants to kill me." She added before ducking back behind the bed.
He blinked, confused, glancing from the bed to the door. He grit his teeth and leveled kagome with a glare. THIS was what she was so terrified of?? His rubber DUCKY?"Oh, for the love of.." he opened the door, rolling his eyes and muttering curses."Look," he said to her," no duck-----gyah!What the HELL???"
."SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!!!!!!" The rubber ducky pounced, its blue eyes turned crimson, filled with an unholy light. It slammed against Sesshou-maru's chest, and he let out a yell of fright and stumbled backwards, tripping over his feet and toppling to the floor. His eyes were huge as he watched his rubber ducky crawl across the floor, making hideous baby crocidile noises, flashing sharp fangs that should not have been there. Terror clogged his throat.
."SQUEAK!"the ducky roared piercingly as it leapt up onto the bed and made its waddling way toward Kagome.
Sesshou-maru's mouth had fallen open and his face was frozen in horror. THIS was the ducky he had taken many a happy bath with?? THIS was his bubble friend of old??
."SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!!!"
."GYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh!!! Stay away from meeeeeeeeeee!!!" Kagome screamed from the other side of the bed. Sesshou-maru unfroze at the sound of pure terror in her voice. Protective male instincts once again roared through him, chasing out the icy fear of his rubber ducky, and giving him strength to move. He dove for the bed, catching hold of the ducky and flinging it as it writhed and bit at him, across the room. It hit the wall with a 'squeak!' and was silent.
((a/n:: @_@. How very morbid... ))
Sesshou-maru crawled across the bed to peer over the side at Kagome, who had gone oddly silent as well. He found her backed into a corner, clutching a stuffed spidermonkey and chugging down a huge bottle of tequilla. He crawled over the edge of the bed and gently took the bottle away. She gave a little cry of protest, sniffled, and then huddled into the corner, hugging her monkey tightly. He reached for her, and she came crawling toward him clumsily. She collapsed into his lap, burying her face into his stomach.
."I TOLD you the ducky was tryn' ta kill me."she sniffled indignantly."Stupid snarly male.."she hiccupped, which felt very strange considering her face was pressed into his stomach."wah." she said angrily, and wrapped her arms around his waist, burrowing deeper into his middle
Feeling a bit uncomfortable with a saucy female nuzzling his midsection, Sesshou-maru searched for something else to focus on. His eyes found the tequilla bottle. It was more than half empty. His eyes widened, and he looked from the bottle, to the disgruntled female in his lap. His eyebrows shot up."Kagome?"
."Mmphm?" she mumbled into his stomach, setting off all kinds of fluttery feelings in him. He winced and gently disentangled her arms from his waist, proping her up so that she wasn't so dangerously close to nuzzling his unmentionables.
."Kagome, did you drink that whole bottle by yourself?"
He felt her nodd, and she turned her head and smiled up at him drunkenly."All by m'yself."she said proudly, beaming up at him.
He fought back a smile and fixed his face into a stern expression."You're drunk." He accused.
She stuck her tongue out at him."Maybe. The ducky was scary."
."Yes, it was." He replied, absently petting her hair. She had soft hair.
."I have a monkey."
."I'm very glad."
."Do you have a monkey?"
."Sadly, no."
."oh. do you WANT a monkey?"
."I cannot honestly say that I have ever thought of it."
She pondered this, looked from her monkey, and then back to him, chewed her lip, and then said,"You can borrow mine since your ducky died."
He looked down at her, smiling faintly, and she beamed back up at him. He melted."Kagome, I--,"
Her eyes were closing. Fluttering shut as her breathing evened out. She let out a heavy sigh of satisfaction, her lips curving into a slight smile. She hooked her fingers onto his shirt, cuddled up against his chest, and slept.
((a/n:: ahh, the convience of Kagme passing out in mid-scene.))
He watched her for a little while, listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing, lost in thought. Sesshou-maru shifted her so that she was pressed more comfortably to him, and carefully stroked her cheek with his fingertips."Kagome," he murmured softly. Sesshou-maru leaned back against the wall and sighed, staring off into space."Dammit."
He sighed again in resignation and gathered her up into his arms, struggling to his feet. Gently he laid her down on the mattress, carefully arranging her in what he thought was a comfortable position. He sat at the edge of the bed, watching her, chewing his lip thoughtfully.
Sesshou-maru let out an irritated huff."Ah, what the hell." He muttered, and leaned over to press his lips to her forehead. The skin was silk beneath his mouth. He trembled slightly, silently fighting himself, before giving in and kissing her cheek. And as soon as he'd done it, he wanted more. He kissed the corner of her mouth, and he shuddered. No, no, he shouldn't..he couldn't...His mouth hovered over hers, so close, so very close. He was shaking, a fine trembling throughout his whole body. He wanted this. God, he wanted this. And she would never know. Never know that he had stolen just one kiss. Just one.... He clenched his hand into a fist on the mattress and shoved himself away."No." he told no one in particular.
With an angry scowl, he walked to the door, picking up his fallen ducky, and silently closed the door behind him.
____________________________________
Night had fallen upon the world, the shadows guzzling down the last pools of light until there was nothing left but darkness. The only light for miles was nestled deep within a forest of trees, on top a small hill, hidden, for the most part, from the rest of the world. A man in a large van, one of the few who knew of this haven, made his speedy way up the dirt road that led to the house. The headlights from his vehicle knifed through the suffocating darkness, spearing a path through the shadows. He could have driven without the headlights; he knew the road by heart, and he had exceptional eyesight. But he kept them on for the sake of any possible unsuspecting travelers. He'd been raised to courtesy, and he stuck to it most of the time. When he'd reached his destination he pulled up into the driveway behind the house and hiked up the path. The porchlight was on, which puzzled him, but didn't worry him too much. Miroku tended to lend the house to a lot of people, so there was always one person or another staying over. And as long as they didn't invade his space, he really didn't care.
The man dug a key from his pocket, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. The kitchen was rich with the lingering scent of delicious foods. He enhaled deeply, closing his eyes. There was only one person he knew who could cook a meal and have the scent linger for so long and yet remain so poignant. He smiled. Well, that solves the question of who was staying over.
The man went through the fridge until he found what he wanted, ate it, and then went to the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he paused and stared at his reflection. He'd been on the road for a long time now, and damn, but it showed. He sighed, swiping his hand across his reflection, not wanting to see.
Midnight found him in his room as he carelessly tossed his duffel bag on the floor. He'd bring up his other belongings in the morning.
He removed his clothing clumsily, feeling weary and sore from the long drive, and wanting nothing more than the comfort of his own bed after so long sleeping in hotel rooms or his van. He slipped beneath the covers of his bed with a soft contented sigh, quickly falling into sleep. And if there was someone snoring softly beside him, he didn't notice.
____________________________________
endnote:: hmm...well, that was different. I seem to be getting into the plot, finally. This chapter seems to have more sap and mayhem than humor. Ah, well, its IS also a romance fic, after all.Moving along...**sighs** so stupid. It took me two months of moodiness to get myself into writing-mode, and then two days to get an idea and write this goddamn chapter. I wrote almost the entire freaking thing TODAY! Good christ. Thankyou to all my readers, who somehow continued to review and read my story despite the fact that it was thoroughly buried beneath the hundreds of other fics that actually get updated. The inu-yasha archive has been going nuts lately. Special thanks to erik, who took away my continuous depression and gave me peace and love in its stead. Ahh, the sappiness. Well, onward ho. On to the next chappie.