Author's Notes:
First of all, it was brought to my attention that another author is trying to steal my ideas from this story and adapt it into a similar plot. Everything from the fact one is an author, to the story beginning with a Kagura POV, to Yura being her friend, to Sess saving her, to the chapter title being very close to my chapter 8 title-- it is the same and needless to say I am not pleased. While the characters do not belong to me, this plot is mine. I do not appreciate someone ripping off my hard work like this and would like it if whomever it is takes their story down and reworks their plot so it is not directly ripping off my plot elements. Please, be original in your writings and do not steal my hard work! I have been working on this story for twenty chapters, trying my best to make it original and so seeing that someone has so quickly taken my plot to use for themselves was upsetting. This story means a lot to me, and I hold it very dear to my heart, so I am very hurt that someone has acted in this manner.
As the author of this story, I felt it was only right that I notify my readers of this finding and how it has upset me. I suppose when I heard of plagiarists, I always thought "Hey, it won't happen to me" but I guess I was wrong.
Well, that matter aside, I would first like to extend my gratitude to all of you that have been reading and reviewing this story. When I began this story back in October I really had no idea what the reaction was going to be. This pairing, despite it's recent light in the manga, was greatly overlooked in the InuYasha fanfiction world and so in writing it I really didn't know how it would be accepted. And I want to thank all of you for accepting this story, for encouraging me and for reading this. It really means very much to me to know that there are so many people out there that read and enjoy this story on a weekly basis, and I thank you all greatly for it.
That all said, there will be a one-week delay on the next chapter. I will be out of town at the Anime Central convention in Chicago next week, but I do plan to get the next chapter up as soon as I can once I get home.
Thank you all again, and as always- read, review and enjoy
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They say time changes everything, but from the moment I first spoke to Sesshoumaru I would have never guessed I would find myself in the position I was. He was calm, collected, and most of all- the most romantically reserved man I had ever met. If he had any hormones they were lost in the ice age that happened in his heart.
But slowly, I was beginning to notice a thaw you might say. Whether it was something about my situation that was reminding him of his Mother or something else, I wasn't sure… but… things were leaning more and more towards that 'something else.'
I'm not sure what the hell happened to him, but when he pulled me into his arms and told me to rest, there was something there.
Now personally, I like to look at that 'something' as him realizing it hurts a whole fucking lot to get a champagne bottle smashed in your side and that comforting me instead of pissing me off was a good idea. But since this was Sesshoumaru, the man with the frozen heart, we are talking about- the fact he was comforting me confused me.
Then of course, the bastard has to go and make things complicated once again. Comfort is one thing, but waking up with him practically all over me- is another matter all together.
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Chapter 20: I've Got Your Number
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'And the Lord continued into the forest, his eyes narrowed and his pace steady. In the sky above, the moonlight shone down through the gaps in the trees, illuminating the path on which he traveled.'
Sesshoumaru frowned, and looked about at his surroundings, "Great. I'm dreaming my novel," He thought to himself with a shrug, wondering when he had allowed himself to fall asleep while sitting there with Kagura.
'As he continued on his path, he could hear the light rumbling sound of a waterfall in the distance. Not certain why, he made that sound his destination. The forest was silent save for the melodic rush of water, and for some reason, that sound was comforting to him.'
"I find nothing comforting about that irritating noise," He remarked bitterly to himself, his motions being drawn by the course of his own subconscious.
'Upon nearing the falls, his golden eyes caught sight of moment amidst the flowing waters.'
"Probably just my imagination," Sesshoumaru thought to himself, his footsteps taking him closer and closer to the falls.
'The Lord, reasoning that it was surely nothing but his imagination playing tricks with him, continued to walk forward.'
Sesshoumaru frowned, "This is ridiculous. Why am I dreaming about this nonsense?"
'Starlight and moonlight reflected off the pure crystal surface of the water, and it was in that reflection that the Lord noticed that there was indeed something or…someone standing beneath the waterfall. Instinctively, he reached for his sword- not certain if what awaited him there was an ally or an enemy.'
"I really have other things to attend to rather than dreaming this," He sighed.
'Golden eyes narrowed as the figure moved, and wasting no time, the Lord jumped forward, his arms pinning the mysterious being against the rocks under the ledge of the falls. Red eyes flashed a deadly gaze before they settled on the steely gold ones. Recognition dawning on him in a flash, his shock left him frozen as he held the woman where she was.'
Not sure if he was more irritated with the current narration or with the fact that he was dreaming up such things, Sesshoumaru was beginning to have a bad feeling that his limited knowledge of romance novels was just about to be put into play.
'Water dripped down her black hair and cascaded along the smooth planes of her nude form.
'What do you think you're doing, bastard?' The Wind Mistress snapped.
The Lord frowned, yet found himself not releasing her.
With a clatter, his sword fell to the ground and in the back of his mind he was thankful for this small area of rocks under the curtain of the waterfall.'
At that, Sesshoumaru began the hardest he had ever tried in his life to will himself awake.
'Cupping her face gently, the Lord leaned down and looked deeply into her crimson eyes.
'Do you not understand?'
'Understand?' She questioned.
He reached to his waist and pulled his worthless second blade from where it was and tossed it to the ground.
'I am not here to fight you,' He stated simply.'
But fighting, Sesshoumaru was- against his own mind and subconscious for even allowing any remote semblances of these thoughts to intrude on his sleep.
'The Wind Mistress smirked then, her hand slowly reaching out as she traced a finger down his chest.
'You're such a pretty man,' Her lips curved up in a seductive smile.
'And you…'
Sesshoumaru winced, "Don't say it. I refuse to speak like those horrid novels of Kaguya's."
'The Lord leaned down, his lips hovering just above hers.
'And you, are a beautiful creature sent to this earth just to torment me.'
She laughed lightly at that.
'This could be a trap, you know. Maybe I'm just using you.'
'Perhaps,' The Lord replied, his hand gently reaching up and tangling his claws in her damp black hair.'
Consciously, the white-haired man was thinking over all the possible means to force himself awake, and cursing the fact that for once his Father had not called back to irritate him. "The one time I require his intervention. And he decided to stay out of it. Hmph," He paused thinking over things, "If Jakotsu did something to my beverage earlier. I will fire him for this."
'The Lord's hand drifted lower, gently resting on her hip.
'The night is cold,' He remarked, his eyes never leaving hers.
She leaned forward against him, 'I have a feeling it doesn't have to be.'
Vowing to himself that he would not let the illusion progress any further, Sesshoumaru's ears caught the light sound of footsteps approaching. Knowing the sound was of the real world and not of the dream, he began to slowly pull himself out of the layers of sleep that had overtaken him.
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It would have made a fitting portrait, Mr. Taiyoukai noted as he looked at the scene laid out before him. The tranquil setting adorned with the two resting figures that were seemingly obvious to his presence in the doorway.
The man to the right, his long silver-white hair splayed out across the bed behind him. Dark sheets contrasting sharply with his light hair and pale skin. In his arms he gently held a beautiful woman against his chest. Her black hair hung loose, letting the dark waves cascade over her shoulders as her head rested intimately under the man's chin.
Mr. Taiyoukai thought of all the times he wished he'd invested in a portable camera and knew it would have been for moments like this. Moments that he was having trouble even believing that his own eyes were seeing.
"The dress. Maiougi's," He noted on seeing the familiar outfit, "She would have been pleased."
His light smirk increased as he noticed how Sesshoumaru had pulled Kagura closer during his slumber. But before Mr. Taiyoukai could enjoy the picturesque sight further, his eyes caught the sharp glare of gold coming from the still unmoving figure of his son.
"I would take this as it appears. But I'm afraid that an assumption of that sort would be ill-fitting of your character," He remarked, his voice attempting to withhold his amusement at catching his son in such a predicament.
"Indeed it would," Sesshoumaru shot back. His voice irritated, yet his body still not moving from where it laid.
On noting that his Father wasn't looking as convinced as he would like him to be, the young man continued, "I'm not a romantic."
"So you say," His Father retorted calmly, "Yet in the past few days- you've rescued a woman, kissed her to protect her from being found by her Father and you are currently lying in a bed with her presumably to comfort her nerves."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes.
"I take it she's not well enough to go out for a proper dinner," Mr. Taiyoukai asked, the subject quickly shifting.
"That would be the assumption," He retorted.
"It shall be attended to. Be downstairs in the next hour or so."
And with that said, the elder man turned and left; the door swinging closed behind him and left Sesshoumaru to his current situation.
It was only a few moments after Mr. Taiyoukai had left that Sesshoumaru registered the item his Father had held in his hand.
"The manuscript. So those footsteps earlier were," He paused and looked to where he remembered last seeing it laid.
But before he could ponder what his Father was going to do with the manuscript, a sharp female voice caught his attention.
"I didn't know you had a hair fetish," Kagura remarked, her red eyes casually glancing at where his hand was entangled in her hair.
He withdrew it immediately, quickly diverting the subject, "Awake? How long?"
Kagura quirked an eyebrow, his behavior was a bit shaken and she decided to take advantage of that, "I thought it wasn't of your concern."
On hearing the mocking tone of her voice and seeing that smug smirk, Sesshoumaru frowned, "I see you're feeling better"
Still playing it cool, she laughed as she tapped her fingers on his other hand, "And I see while I was resting you discovered your hormones."
Jerking his other hand away from where it rested on her hip, Sesshoumaru silently thanked the gods that he woke up before his dream took things any further.
"If I was acting out what I was doing. It would have been very troublesome."
Glaring at her, while easily masking his annoyance at his subconscious behind his cold air, he retorted, "Don't distort my actions."
"Then don't lie to yourself about them," Kagura continued, knowing all to well that she had the upper hand in this battle.
Once again, their eyes met in cold glares as they each tried to convince the other into silence.
"Father is attending to dinner," Sesshoumaru noted after a moment.
Kagura smirked victoriously, knowing that his change of subject meant she was right.
But before the victory could sink it, the context did.
"Wait, if he wasn't faking those actions…then that means…"
Her eyes widened as she looked up at him.
"No fucking way. Hell would freeze over before that bastard had a dream like that about me."
"And I believe Jakotsu did something to our beverages," He remarked, slowly sitting upright, "You and I were not prone to dreams of this nature before now, is that correct?"
Knowing he was referring to her dream earlier, she blinked.
"What the hell were you dreaming about?!"
He frowned, "It was merely a delusion created by some form of aphrodisiac implanted in something we both consumed. That is the only logical explanation."
Kagura sat up and looked at him, trying to make sure he was indeed serious.
"Okay, it's official. Hell froze, Sesshoumaru had a dream about me, and all I know is…the way he was holding me when I woke up. That means that…"
"You pervert! I bet I was naked in that fantasy of yours- Goddamnit!"
Realizing that in asking anything about the dreams it would require revealing more about his own, he decided- aphrodisiac, bad indigestion or whatever it was that had caused it could remain unknown. Letting Kagura know too much was not a good idea.
"And I most likely was in yours," He retorted.
"Actually, no you weren't," She shot back, leaning forward to get in his face, "So let's just leave it at this- we both had a dream about each other, it was obviously not something we would think about at all, therefore…"
"We are disregarding the matter all together," Sesshoumaru finished.
"Agreed on one condition."
He quirked an eyebrow and awaited her condition.
"Admit it first."
Sesshoumaru frowned.
"You know I was dreaming of you, I said it out loud. You have to the do the same."
His glare shifted to various places in the room before settling back on Kagura.
Finally, he brought himself to speak, "I was. There."
"No, was what?" She pressed on with a smirk.
The glare intensified, "The dream. It included you."
Kagura sat back against the pillows, revealing in the fact she'd just gotten the best of Sesshoumaru. But her smirk slowly faded into confusion as he noticed something else.
Her breath had caught in her throat and her heart had clearly begun to beat faster the moment he'd said that.
"The dream. It included you," It played in her mind, the tone neither angry nor disappointed.
Standing then, Sesshoumaru looked to the clock then to Kagura.
"The medicine can be taken now."
Gently laying a hand over her injured side, she nodded, "Okay, I'll get some water."
As he made his way to the door to go downstairs and retrieve the medication, he paused on hearing the sound of water running from the bathroom. At that, his dream came to mind and he frowned.
"If she drowns. That will be her own issue to attend to. I am not opening that door."
And with that reassurance in place, he headed downstairs.
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Preview for Chapter 21:
When Mr. Taiyoukai said he would "attend" to dinner, neither Sesshoumaru nor Kagura had the slightly idea what he could cook up- and no, we don't mean the food.