Sakura no Shouki
Sho ni – Tsukuru jibun de ie (Chapter two - To make myself at home)

Reviewer's:

Nintendo Queen: What and you think I speak good Japanese? (waves Japanese dictionary) What do you think this is for?

The next morning found Sakura's old clothes by her bed. All was quiet within thecastle and Sakura dressed with equal quietness not wanting to disturb Naraku if he were still asleep. She needed time to herself to think. She pulled on her dark purple juban and atop it her black kimono with the blue flowers with she tied shut with a dark blue obi.

She carefully opened to the outside shoji and padded down the hall to Naraku's room and slowly opened his door. Peering in she found him asleep against the east wall. Sakura took a moment to look him over as he slept, his face was relaxed and he didn't look quite so cruel. Sakura quietly shut the door and turning, went down the steps and into themiasma filled forest.

When she cloud feel that Naraku's barrier was close she stopped, closed her eyes and chanted softly. Black mist immediately began to swirl around her slowly becoming solid. Two bright violet eyes opened at the head of the swirling mist, claws extended and the rolling mass of black youki solidified into black scales belonging to that of the ryu now standing in front of her.

'Konnichi wa, Tamasuya.' Sakura said extending a hand out and placing it on the ryu's hard black nose. Hot steamy breath was exhaled and flowed down her arm. A low rumbled answered her.

'Shall we fly then?' Sakura asked climbing atop the dragon and settling herself on its massive head. Tamasuya rumbled his replied and took off though the forest, his powerful black scales pushing him though the forest like a long black speeding arrow; as his name suggested. They passed though Naraku's barrier without disturbing it in the least and traveled onward towards a small out lying village.

Naraku was furious. Not only was thewoman gone, Kanna's mirror could not pick her up either. So now he paced the length of his porch. How could she have passed though his barrier without his feeling it? Naraku growled. He had lost his treasure, he hadn't had breakfast and there was nothing to vent his frustrations on. Kagura had, upon sensing his mood, volunteered herself to go find the waywardwoman and had taken off immediately. Kanna was somewhere in the castle. Naraku snarled and smashed one of the porches wooden beams.

Sakura drifted lazily on the wind atop Tamasuya. The warm summer wind felt wonderful against her skin. Suddenly another wind crosses her face and Sakura felt Kagura's presence coming towards her. Sakura sat up and steadied Tamasuya who was instinctively moving away from the intruder. 'Shhhhh. Let her come.'

Kagura drifted up beside her. 'What do you think your doing?'
'Relaxing. Why? Is Naraku throwing a fit?'

Kagura narrowed her eyes. 'He's furious. If you know what's good for you, you won't run off again.'

Sakura snorted. 'I'll do as I please. I only ran out for some supplies.' She pointed to the large pack she had been using as a pillow.

Kagura glanced at it then returned her attention to the ryu. 'Where did he come from?'

Sakura patted his head. 'He's mine. Shall we be going before Naraku gives himself an ulcer?' Sakura turned Tamasuya around and they sped through the forest back towards the castle.

The moment Sakura set foot in the courtyard, Tamasuya vanishing from sight, Naraku stormed out of the castle, grabbed her by her bandaged arm and dragged her back inside.

Sakura winced at the action and said a small chant under her breath producing a black fan with a dark purple slash across it. She had no doubt in her mind as to where Naraku was taking her and felt the sudden need to remind Naraku that she was not one of his subjects, but his guest. Sakura brought the closed fan down upon Naraku's strangling grip on her forearm and sent a fire hot stab through his hand. Naraku let go immediately and whirled to face her holding his hand, though the pain was already subsiding.

Sakura flicked open her fan. 'I'm only staying as your guest out of courtesy. Do not think you can boss me around like one of your subjects. You have already seen that I can leave anytime I chose and that there is nothing you can do about it. Careful Naraku, you don't know anything about me or what I can do.'

Naraku watched her carefully. 'Where did you go?'

'I went to a nearby village to get something's. Paper, paints, books, the such.'

'Hmmm. Next time tell me before you go off.' Naraku spun on heel and stormed off down the hall.

Sakura rolled her eyes and went back outside where her pack had been left. "Such a controlling man." She thought as she went back inside towards her bedroom.

That evening before dinner, Naraku went looking for her. He didn't have far to look, she was sitting just outside her room, the shoji doors open, sketching on the paper she had gotten in the village. Naraku stood quietly watching her draw. Her hair was held up with chopsticks and was wholly concentrating on her art. Naraku drew nearer and peered over her shoulder at the paper, on it were two very elegant birds with long plume tails. One red and gold, a fushicho. The other green and blue, a kujaku.
'Dinner's ready.' Naraku announced.
Sakura nodded and set about gathering up her things.

Later that evening, as Sakura stood outside her room leaning against the railing, Naraku again came to her. But instead of just watching as before he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her back against him. Naraku moved her hair back away from the right side of her neck with his chin and placed a long hard kiss there.

Sakura allowed it but remained on guard. Naraku shivered with pleasure at the scent that filled his nose. Cherry blossoms and a sweet female scent. Naraku groaned softly and licked her neck. It was so rare that he got to enjoy the company of a woman. They were either afraid of him or hated him. This strange demoness neither feared nor loathed him, or like Kanna ignored him completely. Naraku nipped at her neck while his hands began exploring the rest of her body. Sakura enjoyed the attention given to her neck but soon his hands started to drift to places she wasn't quite ready for.

Sakura had the feeling Naraku wouldn't take a simple no for an answer. She whirled quickly around taking him by surprise. Gave him a quick kiss on the lips, and before the door to her room shut and was held in place with a barrier uttered a quick 'Oyasuminasai!' (Good Night) and left Naraku standing there on the porch staring at her door wondering what had just happened.

Sakura shrugged out of her day clothes and was about to put on her nemaki when she heard Naraku's door slam violently shut. Sakura sighed and finished donning her white sleeping robe. "He's going to be unpleasant in the morning."

The next morning found Sakura eating her breakfast alone, utterly. Everyone had left the castle. It was the first morning here that she had had to actually fix her own breakfast. Usually Kanna brought it to her. Sakura shrugged finished her meal and then set to work on another drawing.

Evening came and Sakura finished yet another meal alone. She mildly wondered if Naraku had abandoned her but didn't think he'd give up so easily. She was still alone when she drifted off to sleep.

In the middle of the night Sakura awoke to the feel of strong hands encircling her waist and a firm male body being pressed up against hers.

'I don't mind your staying, so long as you behave yourself.' Sakura muttered without opening her eyes.

A deep chuckle sounded in her ear followed a half-second later by a warm gust of breath. 'Where's the fun in that?' Naraku whispered huskily.

'More fun than getting tossed out on your ass.' Sakura replied.

Naraku tightened his grip on her waist. 'I don't like being threatened.' Malice crept into his voice.

'And I don't like being mauled.'

'Oh? You didn't seem to mind so much last night.'

'I didn't mind the kisses. Mind your hands please.' Sakura pushed back a wondering hand.

Naraku chuckled. 'Your not being very much fun.'

Sakura turned her head towards him and stared into the intense red eyes. 'Of course I'm….' She was cut short by Naraku's lips. 'Mmmppfh!'

Sakura mentally sighed and rolled her eyes, slipping a hand into his hair. It was thick and soft. Sakura allowed the passionate kissing and wandering hands until he made it clear that he wanted more. Sakura dug her sharp fingernails into his sides and Naraku jerked at the sharp electrical shock that coursed though him.

'Behave yourself.' Sakura said turning onto her side away from him.

Naraku growled and pulled her onto her back once more. 'I'm not finished with you yet, wench!'

Sakura muttered something he couldn't quite catch and he next found himself halfway across the room. Naraku snarled enraged and sent a flurry of tendrils towards her. Sakura quickly snapped open her fan and disappeared from sight before the tendrils reached her. She reappeared behind Naraku and wrapped her arms around his waist.

She leaned close and whispered in his ear. 'You need to learn to be more respectful of a woman's feelings. Your not going to get anywhere with me if you keep treating me like a bed wench.'

Naraku growled and withdrew the tentacles; he turned to her staring evenly at her.

Sakura ran a long finger down the left side of his face. 'Get along with me and I'll get along with you.' Sakura leaned close and placed a kiss on his lips.

Immediately his arms went around her waist and pulled her closer. Sakura pushed at his chest when it started getting more passionate. Naraku growled in response but reluctantly let go when a sharp pinch to his sides reminded him of earlier.

Sakura pulled back. 'Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to the sleep you so rudely interrupted.'

Naraku chuckled. 'Only if I can join you.'

'Only if you behave.'

Naraku leaned close and licked her left check. 'I'll try.'

Sakura rolled her eyes and settled back down on the futon with Naraku curled up behind her his right arm draped across her waist and possessive hand over her left breast. Naraku's warm breath against her neck Sakura settled back into sleep.

Glossary:

Juban: The garment under the outer kimono
Youki: Youkai energy
Ryu: Dragon
Konnichi Wa: Hello
Oyasuminasai: Good night
Nemaki: Night kimono, sleeping clothes.
Fushicho: Phoenix
Kujaku: Peacock
Tama: ball, bullet – Ya: arrow (Tamasuya's name translates: Bullet arrow)
Su: Animal habitat, like a den. (Tamasuya's youki makes him the perfect den or hiding place for Sakura)