Wounded

The full moon shown brightly in the sky as it rose above the horizon. A small breeze flowed through the garden, bringing with it the smell of flowers. The breeze did little to disturb the dark figure that sat upon the stone bench. Karappo sat there in silence as she did every night for the past few weeks. She had grown used to walking with SesshoMaru in the middle of the night. She sat in silence, waiting for some one who wasn't coming. Even though he had left several days ago to meet with another lord, she still sat and waited for him so they could walk together. She just couldn't sleep without walking. She released a heavy sigh as the tears began to fall. She felt so alone. She fiddled with her braid as she continued to cry.

Suddenly, Karappo felt a hand upon her shoulder. She looked up in shock to see SesshoMaru standing behind her. His gaze became full of concern when he saw her tears. He lifted his hand from her shoulder to her face and wiped the tears away. Then, he sat next to her upon the bench. He released a sigh as he watched her fiddle with her hair. He placed his hand back on her shoulder when her eyes began to water again.

"You lied to me."

"How did I lie to you?"

"You said you would be back yesterday. You're late."

"I'm sorry but I hope this will make it better."

Karappo turned her head when he said that. She watched as SesshoMaru pulled out a rose from his sleeve. And not just any rose. A black, thorn less rose. She gasped in aw at the flower. It must have taken him and eternity to find it. He smirked at her expression as he placed half of her bangs and the rose behind her right ear.

"Arigato."

"I took me half a day of searching to find the perfect one. I hope you can forgive me."

Karappo nodded her head as she felt the back of SesshoMaru's hand trail across her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. He then cupped her face in his hand and marveled at how soft her skin was. He noted that she seemed to glow in the light of the full moon. He also noticed how relaxed she was. Her face made you think she was asleep but he knew better. As he held her face, his thumb trailed under her lips. She sighed at the action.

"Your skin is so soft, like silk. And so white, like the snow."

She only sighed in response.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

Karappo opened her eyes and stared at SesshoMaru the moment the word 'Beautiful' came out of his mouth. She then turned her head away form him, her bangs falling to cover her face. She felt embarrassed and ashamed at the same time. He placed his hand upon her shoulder when she turned. He didn't understand why. He assumed she would have appreciated the compliment since no other woman had ever been called beautiful by him.

"Why do you turn when I compliment you?"

Karappo slowly turned her head toward him.

"No one has ever called me beautiful before."

"Well you are. You can trust my word, I never lie."

Karappo smiled at the statement.

"Are you smiling?"

"No. I don't smile."

"I think you were."

"No I was not."

"Yes you were I saw it."

"No I wasn't."

Karappo stood and began to run, a smile planted firmly on her face.

"Yes you were."

SesshoMaru stood and followed. He chased her all through the gardens. He was amazed at how fast she could run, he could barely keep up with her. After about an hour, he caught her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her against his heaving chest. She bent her head forward in order to try and escape his grasp and catch her breath at the same time but his arm was like a steel bar, it didn't budge. After he caught his breath, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

"I win, what's my prize?"

Karappo tried to laugh but coughed instead.

"If you would let me turn around, I'll give you your prize."

SesshoMaru's grip upon Karappo's waist loosened enough for her to turn around. She lifted her head to gaze into his eyes. She reached up and grasped his face with her hands and forced him down for a kiss. After his shock wore off, he tightened his grip on her waist, forcing her body to press flush against his. She wrapped her warms around his neck. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue, asking her for entrance. After a moment, she granted it. He explored her cavern with his long tongue while trying to get hers to explore his. After the battle of tongues was one, he gently nipped her bottom lip with his lethal fangs. When he did so, a soft moan erupted form her throat.

Leaving Karappo's mouth, SesshoMaru trailed kisses and nips down her jaw line then back up to her ear. He licked the shell of her ear with his tongue while she moaned her pleasure to him. He then took her earlobe in between his fangs and tugged on it. He felt her heart beat begin to race as he released her ear and returned to her jaw line. He continued kissing and nipping down her jaw and her neck. She leaned her head to the side, her eyes half lidded. He was about to remove the shoulder of her kimono when he felt a hand upon his shoulder. He looked into her eyes and saw the slightest hint of tears.

"I can't. I'm sorry.'

"It's alright. I understand."

Karappo smiled when SesshoMaru said he understood. She had been through too much, she wasn't ready to giver herself to anyone else yet. She felt bad for stopping him when she saw the sadness in his eyes. She placed a hand on the side of his face to catch his attention. She cupped his face when his eyes met hers.

"I can't. I'm not ready. But I don't mind kissing."

SesshoMaru's eyes lightened up when he heard Karappo say that. He captured her lips once again, but with a smirk upon his face. They kissed for what seemed like an eternity until they broke for air and to return to the palace. They walked side by side. His arm around her waist and her head upon his shoulder. She was very tired. He walked her to her room. They said goodnight to each other but before he could turn to leave, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips before she disappeared into her room. He too retired to his room. He feel asleep with a smile upon his face.