Author's Notes: Wow, this story is getting long ^^;; I can't believe it's 18 chapters already…oy, I write too much ^^;;
Anyways, I blame this chapter on the fact me and my fellow librarians were joking about bad romance novels. Enjoy ^^
Also- I ran over 2 pages on this, so yay ^^
As always- I ask if you take the time to read this, then please take the time to leave at least a short review. Thanks ^^
------------------------------------------------------------------
A muse- some shit from ancient Greece or Rome or some place that's got all those marble statues of naked people. Put simply, a muse is someone that inspires or helps a creative mind. Now given that description, would someone like to tell me how in the hell I became one?
Well whatever the damn reason was, there I was- having made a deal with Sesshoumaru to help him with his novel. Problem was, I honestly don't know a thing about writing. I hated English, ignored most of my classes in school, and had probably only picked up maybe five books at the most in the past ten years.
And the one thing I'd avoided most was those dime-store trashy romance novels. Sure, I might have laughed at the covers while waiting in line at some store, but I'd have to be really really bored before I picked one up.
Honestly, with titles like "Vengeful Passions" and shit like that, who would want to read one?
But I think the best reason I have for never reading a romance novel is that those things toy with your mind. I mean honestly, there was no way whatsoever that I was thinking even remotely romantically about Sesshoumaru. Nope, not at all.
--------------------------------------------------
Chapter 18: Relaying a Message
---------------------------------------------------
As they stood there, sealing the deal, the phone began to ring again. Frowning on knowing all too well who it was, Sesshoumaru released Kagura's hand and walked back down the few stairs to get to the phone.
"Yes?" His monotone voice spoke into the receiver.
"Son."
His eyes narrowed on hearing his Father's voice again, waiting for the interrogation about him abruptly hanging up before.
"I said I would contact you later," Sesshoumaru stated before his Father could begin.
"This isn't about that," Came the simply reply.
"Then?"
"My novel."
Sesshoumaru paused, not sure what Mr. Taiyoukai was getting at.
"When I said I couldn't have written it without your Mother. I wasn't just saying her presence was inspiring for me," He continued.
"I see," He replied, his eyes drifting up to where Kagura stood on the staircase.
"That is all."
And with that, he hung up.
Putting the phone down, Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes on the black-haired woman before him.
"So Mother had helped him…" He reasoned with himself.
Turning towards his study, he paused for a moment and spoke.
"Kagura. Come. We have work to attend to."
Following him into the study, she paused as he gestured to an armchair nearby.
"What?" She snapped at him.
"Sit."
She narrowed her eyes, not liking being told what to do. But on seeing nowhere else to sit, she followed suit and sat down.
Walking over to the desk, he lifted up the portfolio and handed her the manuscript.
"Here."
Kagura blinked, "What do you want me to do?"
"What do you think needs amends?" He said, taking his seat the desk.
Frowning, she flipped it open and began to read over the text within. After a few moments, she looked back up at him.
"Well first off, why don't you describe the main guy better?"
"The protagonist?" He offered.
"I thought his name was…"
"The protagonist is the term for the main focal character."
Rolling her eyes, she glared, "Oh bite me. Did I mention I hated English and rarely paid attention in school?"
A moment of silence passed before Sesshoumaru explained himself.
"A description has been made."
With holding a sigh, Kagura replied, "Yah- but, it's boring. It only tells about his power but not what he looks like."
"Physical appearance is not crucial to the story," He countered, a slight frown working its way onto his features.
Realizing this would go no where fast unless she just clarified it all, she began, "But without it your readers will be asleep in seconds. Just throw in some flowery shit like- you know, 'He was a tall slender man, his long silver hair hung down past his waist and fluttered slightly in the evening breeze. Cold golden eyes watched over the horizon as he reached for the sword at his waist.'"
Blinking at the lengthy reply, he retorted, "I thought you said you hated English."
"Is that a compliment?" She asked, smirking to herself.
Avoiding that, he continued, "Why that description?"
"Huh?"
"Tall, long silver hair, cold golden eyes…" Sesshoumaru noted, counting off the traits on his fingers.
Shrugging, Kagura shot back, "No one wants to read about some fat bald guy with normal eyes! He should be handsome."
The room fell silent once more, then the white-haired man noted the one little thing Kagura had done.
"But your description can also be applied to my personage."
Jumping to defense, she responded, "Is there some problem with the prota-whatever looking like you?"
Sesshoumaru smirked slightly, "So you find me visually appealing?"
"What?!" Kagura exclaimed, the portfolio almost falling from her lap.
Reiterating her earlier statement, he replied, "You said that description applied to a man you'd classify as handsome."
Kagura narrowed her eyes, "Did you want me to say you were short, bald and ugly?"
Knowing he'd caught her on that, he continued, "And after describing his appearance?"
Flipping through the pages again, Kagura pointed to one part, "Don't jump right into the battle. It'll scare people off."
"I was under the impression action-genre cinema was popular."
"Movies, yah. But the people who watch blood, guts and gore movies rarely pick up a book."
"Are you trying to turn my novel into a romance?" He said; leveling her with a frown she'd seen before when he spoke to Kaguya.
"What the hell makes you think that?"
"Kaguya claims the only people who read books anymore are hopeless romantics. Are you in agreement with that?"
Kagura tapped the portfolio as she spoke, "Write whatever you want…but from all I know about the stupid world, people are suckers for that 'happily ever after' shit even if it isn't realistic."
Silence once again befell the room, as Sesshoumaru's mind remembered the addition Kagura had made to his story.
"The character you added. Was she to play upon that?"
Kagura blinked, knowing all to well where it was headed.
"She's no more a romantic than the main guy is," She replied cooly, afraid any signs of anger or embarrassment might incriminate her.
Leaning his chin to rest in his hand, Sesshoumaru retorted, "She seemed to be fond of the Lord."
"Damn him. He knows we're not talking about the book anymore… We're talking about us!" Her thoughts berated her, realizing the deep waters they were slowly wading into with this conversation.
"He seemed to be intrigued with her. So, I suppose they are even," Her reply came, voice modulated and manner calm.
"Perhaps…" He trailed off as if he was about to say more, but she cut him off.
"Hey Sesshoumaru…"
He raised an eyebrow.
"What's this paragraph about the Lord watching her bathe all about?" Kagura asked with a smirk, pointing to an imaginary segment of the page.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, knowing all to well there was no such part in his story..
"Very funny," He muttered.
Kagura laughed lightly, pausing when the pain in her side increased from it. As she put at hand to her side, Sesshoumaru frowned.
"Is medicine required?"
Looking up at him, Kagura noticed that odd expression on his face yet again.
"Not of his concern- my ass…" Her thoughts remarked.
"It wouldn't hurt. It's kinda sore again," She explained, watching to see if he did indeed go to retrieve some medication.
And sure enough, without a word he stood and went to get some pain killers.
Sighing to herself, Kagura watched him go, "But…why is he keeping me here if I only make him think back to his Mother? Is there…something else I'm not seeing yet?"
Returning moments later, he handed over a glass of water and the pills to her. Taking the medication, Kagura sat the glass aside and sighed.
"I suppose I should begin revisions," He said, casually lifting the manuscript from her lap and returning to her desk.
Minutes passed as she watched him, his pen scribbling across the pages at a quick pace and his eyebrows and mouth moving every now and then as a thought was passed through his brain.
Unbeknownst to Kagura, she'd let a small smile creep onto her face. Completely content with just sitting there and watching him write, it was- very peaceful. Perhaps it had been an hour or more that she just sat there, watching him as his pen danced across the pages to create his tale.
Suddenly, he stopped, his body rigid as he sat upright, then he turned to stand. Walking across the small room, Sesshoumaru stopped in front of Kagura, cupping her chin in his hand gently and peering under her bangs.
"What are you…" She began, but his one strange word cut her off.
"Red."
"What?" Her voice managed, barely above a whisper.
Reaching up, he brushed the bangs from her forehead, "Your eyes."
Despite herself, Kagura felt strange at that comment, her heart racing slightly.
"Yah, so?" She snapped, hoping to cover her nervousness.
"You said to be more elaborate on descriptions," He replied nonchalantly as he turned and went back to his desk.
"Oh…"
Things returned to as before, but this time, Kagura was no longer content to sit still. That sudden contact with Sesshoumaru had left her mind mulling over too many things, and she wanted to distract herself from it somehow. Looking about at the shelves of books, she spoke up; hoping to start a conversation.
"Sesshoumaru, have you read all these books?"
"No," Came the short reply.
Kagura persisted, "Have you read any of them?"
"…No."
"Why do you have so many books if you never read them? Trying to make yourself look smart?"
He turned and narrowed his eyes, "One doesn't need a personal library to do that."
On realizing this conversation was going nowhere, Kagura frowned and snatched up a nearby paperback.
"Passion of the Moon. Hmm, I bet this one was Kaguya's doing."
Shrugging and figuring she didn't have anything better to do until Sesshoumaru needed her advice on something again; Kagura began to read the story.
----------------------------------------------------
Nearing the middle of the story, the black-haired woman paused as a shadow fell over her.
"Kagura."
She looked up then, her eyes quickly falling on his golden eyes.
"What do you need now Sesshoumaru? Another description?" Her voice was irritable and not amused.
Then she felt his strong hands grip her shoulders, and the book tumbled out of her hands.
"Sesshoumaru…what are you…"
"Kagura," He lowered his face until he was directly in front of her, "You were correct in saying I was lonely here."
Blinking, she swallowed; her throat suddenly dry.
"I need you. Now."
Before she could protest or even question his strange behavior, he leaned in and kissed her forcefully.
Red eyes shooting wide open; she finally caved in and stood up to meet him. Not breaking off the kiss for a single second.
His hands gently cradled her back as he pressed her body against the bookshelves behind them.
Breaking off the kiss for a moment, he looked to her, his eyes softening.
"Kagura…"
-------------------------------------------------
"Kagura. Do you plan to sleep in the chair?" The calm voice continued, but this time it was closer and not distant like before.
Her eyes opened, slowly taking in the surroundings.
"Fuck! Why the hell was I dreaming about you?!" She snapped, instantly regretting her outburst.
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow; his gaze shifting from the book clutched loosely in Kagura's hand to Kagura's flushed expression.
"And you call me a pervert," He said, obviously quite amused, but his face not showing it.
"Shut the hell up! We weren't doing that yet!"
"Yet," He countered.
She stood and stormed over to him, getting in his face, "Just. Drop it. Now."
Deciding to test her temper further, he reached out and took her chin in hand.
"I was not the one having romantic fantasies while napping."
"Just drop it," She seethed, trying to hide her embarrassment with her anger.
"Go on."
"What?" She snapped.
"You desire to kiss me, don't you?" He stated plainly, bringing his hand to brace her shoulder and hoping she didn't try and hit him over this.
Kagura just blinked, her anger flaring up to a boiling point that was only stopped due to a tiny little voice in the back of her head saying, 'You know, he's right.'
Smirking to herself, she shot back, "I get it- you're trying to trick me. You want me to kiss you, and you're trying to trick me into doing it!"
Sesshoumaru blinked once, not expecting her to turn the tables against him.
"I was not the one dreaming of it."
"But you wouldn't suggest it if you didn't want it to happen," She countered.
The two narrowed their eyes simultaneously, each watching the other and looking for a weak point to attack from.
Finally, Kagura figured out just the thing to get even.
"Fine, if you want it that badly, you don't have to beg."
A brief expression of confusion played across his features, and she made her move- leaving a quick, chaste kiss on his lips before turning and walking out of the room to go upstairs.
He blinked a few times before his face settled into a thoughtful expression.
"Touché." His thoughts mocked him, and with that, Sesshoumaru turned to go back to his writing.
Kagura paused half-way up the staircase and ran a hand through her bangs.
"What the hell was that?! I just…goddamnit I just kissed that bastard. That's it- I'm never reading a romance novel ever again…"
------------------------------------------------
Preview for Chapter 19:
After the fiasco with the romance novel, Kagura just wants to be alone to sort out her strange feelings in regards to the matter. But…Sesshoumaru has other plans in mind.
--------------------------------------------------
AND---
Okay boys and girls, here's the author with one more little note for you. Just recently, I teamed up with fellow InuYasha fanfiction author, KellyChan85 to start in on a collaboration fanfic….and it's ready for you to read!
"Under Queer Circumstances"
After being blackmailed by Jakotsu, Inuyasha has three weeks to secure his relationship with Kagome & turn his roommate Bankotsu into the gay-stud Jakotsu's always wanted. It's a little crazy, but hey, it's all in the name of love. (InuKago BankJak)
Check it out now!~
www. fanfiction .net /read. php?storyid=1829275 (just remove the spaces ^^)