Chapter Ten Powerless, Pt. II
Kagome was in the kitchen whipping up a snack when she detected a presence joining her. Turning her head, she smiled at the visitor. "Good afternoon, Sesshoumaru."
The great demon grunted and ruffled his hair, which lay perfectly back into place afterwards. "What are you doing?" He couldn't understand why she would be preparing anything when he had a plethora of cooks at his beckoning.
"I'm making something my mom suggested. Shippou had told me about a stomach ache he'd been getting, and-" She stopped suddenly, her eyes widening. She hadn't seen Shippou in a good two weeks. How was he faring while she was gone? Was Inuyasha treating him fairly? Was he abusing the poor kit?
Turning away from Sesshoumaru, she tried to force her tears back as she continued to fix the snack that no one needed. It was as if she were a mother who lost her child, yet she couldn't get out of the habit of doing things like that child were still there.
Sesshoumaru noticed this and went to her side, wrapping his arms around her waist. He felt her tense at the contact. "Kagome, if you wish, we can find your 'Shippou' and have him live here, with us. If anything, it would provide Rin with a proper playmate, and Jaken could relax once in a while..." Her scent was making him do anything to keep her happy. He lowered his head to her shoulder and tightened his embrace.
Kagome turned her head away from his face. She felt ashamed of herself, as if she were trying to manipulate Sesshoumaru. She wasn't at all! She just truly missed her surrogate son.
She thought of how he had mentioned Rin. 'Does he know how I feel about this? Is that why he made it seem like it would affect more people than just myself?' Turning in his arms, she wrapped her own around his waist. "You know, Sesshoumaru, I think that's a good idea... However, we may have to plan this out. I don't think Inuyasha would be too hot at the idea of our showing up unexpectedly and taking a member of his 'crew' away. Not to mention, if I saw Sango and Miroku, I don't know if I'd choose to stay with them or with...you." She knew those words would sting, since they were stinging her as well. It was the truth, though. She wouldn't deny him that.
Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding. "I completely agree. This will take some serious preparation, especially since my half-wit brother is involved." The smell of her...her concoction was making his stomach growl. How long had it been since he had a meal, let alone a snack? "Kagome, what is in this 'snack' you're making?"
"It's a mixture of herbs and chicken broth with some noodles added for substance." She grinned as she spooned a bit out. "Try it. It's really good, even if you're not sick."
Warily, he glanced at her then at the spoon. "You are sure...that it will not cause harm to me."
Kagome huffed with pretended offense. "You turn your nose up to my cooking, Sesshoumaru?" She smirked and winked at him. "I'm just kidding. It will not harm you, O Great and Powerful Lord Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru gave her a dry smile. "Very funny, human." Before she could respond, he took the bite that she held out for him. He tried to suppress the surprise he felt. She wasn't a half-bad cook for a human. "That has a wonderful flavor." And the aromas that filled the kitchen were tantalizing his senses.
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru!" She giggled softly as she finished cooking the soup. "It's a really simple recipe. If you'd like, I could give it to the cooks to prepare one night for dinner."
'I'd like to have you for dinner every night,' he thought. Coughing to stop his thoughts from traveling down the wrong path, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "We could have it for lunch right now, since you've already prepared it."
"Should I call Rin in?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "She's already had too much to eat today. The cooks are fond of her, and they spoil her with sweets every now and then. It will be just you and I this afternoon." He watched as she poured the soup into two bowls and a couple pairs of chopsticks.
Kagome noticed his eyes watching her every move, staring at places that he normally wouldn't pay attention to on normal days. 'Apparently, today's not normal.'
The great demon followed the miko into a private, more personal dining area and seated her before himself. "So, how has Rin behaved today, Kagome?"
The girl blinked. 'Is he actually asking about my day? What is WRONG with him?' She tried to force a smile. "She's been a very good girl. She even stayed focused for her studies this morning, so I decided to give her some extra play time for her hard work." She took a sip of the chicken noodle, eyeing Sesshoumaru through slitted eyes. 'He's acting...very strange today.'
Sesshoumaru was battling himself inside. It wasn't the chicken noodle soup's aroma that made his mouth water, and that was only half the reason he was about to go bash his head into a wall. 'Something about her today is just...driving me insane,' he thought, hastily masticating Kagome's cooking. He had to do something about this reaction she was creating within him, and fast. He might not be able to control himself if he didn't act quickly.
Downing the rest of his lunch, Sesshoumaru hastily stood. "Kagome, I'll meet you in my study later to discuss the plans for collecting your kitsune."
Staring up at him, she couldn't deny that she was a bit surprised by his sudden change. "Okay, but Sesshoumaru-"
"I'll send for you later," he cut her off with the intent of ending this little lunch they shared before he did something he regretted. "Good afternoon, Kagome." With that, he turned on his heel, empty bowl in hand, and strolled into the kitchen to deposit his dirty dish. He heard Kagome rise from the table, and like a little boy, he kicked up his speed a notch and hurried to his den.
'What are you DOING, Sesshoumaru!' He didn't understand it. No woman had ever been able to make him lust for her with such persistence. Did she purposely do this to him to drive him mad? Was she completely unaware of the change? One thing he was sure of was she was no ordinary woman.
He'd reached the room after what seemed like a mile-long hike and gently shut the doors behind him. Taking a deep breath, he strolled over to the desk on the opposite side of the room and picked up a paper, a vain attempt to distract himself. He shook his head and set it back down. 'C'mon, Sesshoumaru, get it together.' He turned instead to the wall where a balcony lie just beyond. Shoving the door aside and stepping into the sunshine, he blinked and gazed at the world. 'Trees...flowers...birds... Why can't all things in life be this simple?'
Because life isn't meant to be simple. It's to be trying and testing and challenging, along with fun and exciting.
Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru ignored that voice of "reason" in his mind. He sighed and gazed down into the courtyard, watching as Kagome strolled toward his adoptive daughter to continue their afternoon studies. He noticed Kagome's smile as she greeted the young girl and crouched down to her level, as if to be on the same playing field with the child. Suddenly, a vision came to him.
Kagome was wearing a very elaborate kimono, her hair pinned up in a severe bun, her face shadowed by a large tree. Her back was to him at first, and he took the time to admire how well the blue kimono suited her, the sky blue obi showing off her slim waistline. He took a step toward her, and she turned to him, fear penetrating her eyes.
'What do you want?' she asked.
Sesshoumaru blinked. It was as if she didn't know who he was, didn't remember any history between them. He took another step towards her.
'Don't come any closer!' she shouted, clenching her fists to her chest and grimacing, as if she were about to scream. 'Why are you here?' He reached out to her, she scrambled out of distance. 'Go away, you demon!'
She vanished from sight, and all was black. Suddenly, she appeared again, in her school kimono, bloodied and tattered, kneeling on the ground. A spotlight from nowhere seemed to be focused on her, and he could see the tears flowing from her eyes. She hadn't seen him yet. He dashed for her and held her gently in his arms. She stared up into his face and smiled. 'Sesshoumaru, it's you... Thank goodness...'
The vision disappated.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened, shocked and confused by the vision. 'What could this mean?'
Kagome waited patiently as Rin worked on her arithmatic. Pleasantly, she gazed up at one of the balconies and noticed that Sesshoumaru had stepped outside. She suddenly took note of how he was staring at her, and she became worried. "Rin, wait here. I'll send Jaken out."
"No, Miss Kagome! Don't send that ugly, mean demon out here! He'll just force me to continue working and yell at me when I get things wrong!"
"Rin, you'll be fine. I promise. And if he does yell, tell me, and I'll take care of it." Patting the child's head, she stood and quickly walked to the palace doors. She flew down the corridor, holding the hem of her kimono up, until she reached his study. Knocking softly, she opened the door slowly and peeked in. Sesshoumaru was still on the balcony, his head hanging and his hands gripping the ledge. "Sesshoumaru? What's wrong?"
'That scent... Not now, Kagome...' he pleaded with her silently. He turned to see her, cheeks flushed and concern flooding her eyes. "Kagome..."
"Sesshoumaru, what's wrong with you lately?" she started in on him. "First, you've been all nice and kind to me, then while I'm teaching Rin, you look at me with this horror-struck expression. Are you going through moodswings or wha-" Kagome pushed her fists against his chest in vain as he attacked her lips with his own. She knew something had overcome the demon, but she didn't know exactly what sparked the action.
Giving up with her struggle, she loosened in his hold and fell into the kiss, cradling his head and deepening the embrace. He hoisted her up, lifting her at the waist, and moved to the wall with the secret door to his room. He slid it aside and carried her inward, never breaking the kiss, and laid her on his futon, ravaging her body with his hands. His mind had given way to his desires and the luring scent of the woman beneath him.
Kagome had no sense of what was happening. All she knew was that it was pleasurable, and she was enjoying every moment of this uncontrolled bliss. She ran her hands over his shoulders, feeling the raw power within them, knowing what they had the potential of creating...or rather, destroying. They flowed through his silky silver strands, gripping gently and pressing his face into hers. Suddenly, she felt his hands caressing her sides and moving up, alarm bells going off in her mind foggily. "Sesshoumaru," she mumbled. When she received a soft growl in response, she tightened her hold on his locks and pulled his head back. "Sesshoumaru, we've got to stop..."
His face both scared and excited her. His eyes bleeding red and his grin showing off his fangs, he had that dangerous bad-boy look to him that attracted the rebel in her, begging her to let him have his way. Slowly, however, the red receeded, and the grin fell to a gaping, gasping mouth. 'What is going on with him?' she wondered.
He felt the demon in him retreat and his mind eventually take over. He let his gaze linger on her pleasingly flushed face, and as it moved down her body, he saw that her kimono was parted, nearly exposing herself to his view. The demon began to return with renewed vigor, but he suppressed it. "I apologize, Kagome." He stood abruptly, causing a squeak to emit from Kagome, and turn his back on her, stepping towards the open door to his study. "Please get dressed and return to instructing Rin." He didn't wait for a response as he slid the shoji closed and moved back to the desk. He kneeled beside it and hung his head. He'd never lost control like that. How could that woman make him so...powerless over himself? He didn't let his thoughts wander back to the events that had occured just seconds earlier. "You have more important things to worry about, Sesshoumaru. Pay attention to those."
Kagome stared at the shoji, confused by his actions and words. Did he not even care about the moment they just shared? What he purposely doing this to her? Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she readjusted her kimono and stood to leave the bedroom, trying to concentrate on something other than the ache he left her with...she left herself with. She had no idea how close she'd come to being powerless to stop herself from letting him take her completely. It was much too close for her comfort, and she intended to never come that close again.
For now.
NL: So? Did you guys enjoy the chapter? I hope it was long enough to suit y'all...X( I'm not sure if this follows the summary I gave it in the previous chapter, but just the same, I enjoyed writing it. .oO(If only it happened to me sometime, y'know?)
Inuyasha: Gag, NL. You want that girly-boy to be all over you?
Sesshou: You'll regret those words, Inuyasha... (growls)
NL: Save it for another chapter, guys. Here's the preview and review responses.
PREVIEW: Chapter Eleven, The Plan
According to Tenshi, the Inu-tachi had never really killed Naraku. In his disbelief, Inuyasha almost does something he would regret. When they recover from their shock, they begin formulating a plan utilizing Tenshi's information.
Meanwhile with Sesshoumaru and Kagome, the two are still trying to recover from their little "encounter" a few days ago when they congregate for Operation: Kit Return. Will Kagome's emotions and Sesshoumaru's hormones get in the way of this serious strategy meeting?
NL:X( I hope I do well with this next chapter, 'cause I have absolutely NO idea how I'll start it off. Yes, I've got writer's block, but it'll be gone when I get enough sleep one of these nights.
Inuyasha: If you stop mast-
NL: (bashes Inu's head) SHUT UP!
Inuyasha: I was just gonna say if you stop MASTICATING so late at night, you'd sleep better.
NL: (blushes) ... Hehehe...?
Kagome: What did you THINK he was talking about?
Sango: NL, I had no idea you were such a pervert! Oo
Miroku: So, NL...I was wondering-
NL: No. And before this little convo continues, here are the review responses.
REVIEW RESPONSES:
ILuvFLUFFYarshmellows: That's a good question. I kinda forgot about Midoriko. -sweatdrop- Hehe, thanks for reminding me. I'll fit her in next chapter. Thanks for the praise, by the way! XD
WhyWhatShutup: Yeah, well, it gets better. I promise? And thank ya!
Kimster44: Nope, sorry? And here's the update you were lookin' for. Sorry for the wait.
NL: And that's all the time we've got for tonight. Until next time! Ja ne, minna!
