Disclaimer: see previous chapters.
Belonging
Chapter 9
Kurama had given up getting any sleep that night without some help, so he was currently making his way down to the kitchen hoping to snag some alcohol to help numb his mind. After Sessho-maru left for dinner, he'd wandered the various gardens of the walled fortress, thankful for the solitude he found there. After three hours had passed, he made his way back to his room, stopping off at the kitchen to grab some dinner, ignoring, with moderate success, the accusing eyes that followed him. Whether they believe me to be a thief or a sex toy, I don't care as long as they leave me alone.
Kurama finished his dinner, returned to the room, bathed and sat down to read, waiting for Sessho-maru's return. It wasn't until he heard the noises of the nocturnal songs of the birds nesting in the trees nearby did he realize how late it had become. Suddenly, thoughts of Sessho-maru and Lena invaded his mind and he growled as he began pacing the floor.
He didn't like this situation one bit. He was being portrayed as Sessho-maru's sex toy while Whedon tried to cajole Sessho-maru into a marriage with his daughter. A daughter, he was certain, who wanted his head on a platter. I won't let her get her claws into Sessho-maru.
Golden eyes widened in shock and he stopped his pacing. What am I thinking? This is none of my business. I don't share his bed or even his friendship. I am his captive. Prisoner. Someone he can control. Someone he can kill on a whim.
Kurama's hand instinctively went up to clutch the moon pendant around his neck. If he does take her as a mate, then maybe he'll set me free. He won't have time for me with the demands of a mate around. Especially one like her. He had to admit Whedon's plan was a good one, allying himself with Sessho-maru, uniting the southern and western regions. But Kurama still didn't like it.
After waiting another hour for Sessho-maru's return, Kurama got up and headed out again. That's where he found himself at that very moment. Seeking something to sooth his troubled mind. As he walked along the darkened hallways, trying to banish thoughts of Sessho-maru with Whedon's conniving daughter, he almost ran right into the object of his frustration.
"S-Sessho-maru?" As both youkai pulled up so as not to run into each other, Kurama caught the heady scent of perfume and he frowned.
"What are you doing wandering the castle alone at night?"
"I was told I could go anywhere."
"And I told you to be in the room when I returned."
"That was over five hours ago! I can't stay in that room all the time."
"Haven't you tempted fate enough today?"
"I just need a drink."
"You sound like a whiny kit."
"And you smell like a cheap whore."
Kurama regretted the remark as soon as it left his mouth. He knew it sounded like he was jealous and he just hoped Sessho-maru was still riding whatever wave of pleasure that slut gave him not to notice.
But Sessho-maru did catch the tone in Kurama's voice and it gave him a small charge. Could he actually be jealous? But of whom? Me, or her?
"I'll see you when I get back."
Kurama walked past Sessho-maru and continued on to his original destination, now more than ever needing something to numb his mind, when a soft voice halted his progress.
"I didn't sleep with her."
Sessho-maru saw Kurama visibly relax, but he didn't acknowledge the statement in any other way. He simply started walking down the hall again.
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Three days. It had been three days since they arrived in the southern region and Lord Whedon's castle, and Kurama wasn't sure how much longer he could stand it. Not only was he suffering the indignity of being Sessho-maru's sex toy, but he was having a very difficult time dealing with the constant presence of Lady Lena. Kurama could feel his hairs stand on end and his blood boil every time she laid even a finger on the inu youkai.
Yesterday, he had endured an agonizing afternoon walking several paces behind Sessho-maru and Lady Lena as they wandered the gardens, ate lunch and discussed inane topics. He had hoped they would discuss something more interesting like border disputes, or maybe even Sessho-maru's past since Lord Whedon obviously had known him for quite some time. But for four hours he was forced to listen to quips about the weather, fortress gossip and Lady Lena's life.
He knew Lady Lena didn't want him around and he thought Sessho-maru was playing a deadly game with Kurama's own life at stake, but Sessho-maru had made a claim that Kurama never left his side and he intended to make good on that claim. He heard Sessho-maru's voice break his dazed state as he stared unthinking at a flower, hoping to lose himself in its beauty and forget his current situation.
"But my dear Lady, as I have explained to you and your father already, I do not like to be without my Treasure."
"I think perhaps you need a more suitable companion, Lord Sessho-maru. Someone who can relate to you on more than just a…..physical level."
He heard Sessho-maru chuckle and fought every urge within his body not to scream at the top of his lungs that he was not some sexual possession and had not even seen the inu completely naked, much less done anything with him. But he kept his anger in check, hoping Sessho-maru would somehow save his pride. Although why he would ever---
"I call him Treasure for more than just his physical beauty. He has many hidden talents and is quite intelligent. And perhaps someday I will grow tired of him, find someone else to replace him. But I have yet to meet the creature that can captivate me the way he does."
Kurama felt his cheeks getting very warm and he dared a glance in the direction of the pair that was discussing him to find very angry golden eyes aimed at him. Sessho-maru was looking off at something else, seemingly unaware of the death glare Lady Lena was giving Kurama, but he saw the slight curve of Sessho-maru's lips and it somehow made him smile too. He stuck up for me. Sort of. But did he do it just to piss her off?
Kurama was trying to enjoy one of the rare moments of peace since they'd arrived but recalled events of the past few days had served to make him very tense. Logically he understood the advantages of Sessho-maru and Lady Lena's union, but he found his feelings did not see things the same way. In a moment of frustration Kurama picked up a nearby glass and flung it against the wall.
"Was the wine that bad?"
Kurama whirled to see Sessho-maru standing in the bathroom doorway, robe loosely hanging on his body. Golden eyes raked over the broad chest and slightly exposed abdomen. He'd seen Sessho-maru's upper body before but this time….this time it was as if he were seeing it for the first time. He just stared, unwilling to voice any of the inappropriate thoughts in his head. By the gods….
"Is something wrong, Treasure?"
At the sound of the hated nickname and the smug look on the inu's face, Kurama snapped out of his shock and snorted, turning away from Sessho-maru and going to sit in the windowsill.
"How much longer will I be stuck in this hell?"
Sessho-maru smirked as he dressed.
"You are free to leave whenever you wish."
Kurama glared daggers at Sessho-maru's back as he bit back the disappointment in the inu's ability to dress quickly.
"I don't believe for a second that you're enjoying the attentions of that….harpy. Gods! If I have to smell that offending perfume one more day I will leave and kill myself to end the torture!"
'That's enough."
The harsh voice surprised Kurama and he lost his anger. He waited and finally Sessho-maru turned around to face him properly. His golden eyes glinted and for a moment, Kurama thought he had made a grave error. Did I misjudge? Is he really taken with that witch?
Sessho-maru slowly approached Kurama, not stopping until they were mere inches apart. He had been amused at Kurama's childish outburst but at the mention of killing himself, even in jest, Sessho-maru's amusement had disappeared.
He reached out a clawed hand and took Kurama's chin in a soft hold, his eyes focusing on the slightly parted lips of the kitsune. When he spoke, his soft voice washed over Kurama, penetrating his flesh and causing him to shiver.
"That tongue of yours is becoming very problematic, Treasure. Perhaps we should put it to other, more silent uses?"
Sessho-maru finally looked up and saw the conflict within the kitsune that he himself felt. The flushed cheeks and the shallow breathing showed he was physically affected by Sessho-maru's touch and words. But the eyes…the golden eyes still gleamed with defiance, showing the fire that burned within the proud kitsune. Do something, Kurama. Push me away, or pull me forward, but do something before I---
Kurama saw the question in the golden eyes and he caught just the faintest scent of lust in the air. He wouldn't dare. Sessho-maru moved forward a fraction of an inch and this spurred Kurama into action. He growled and brought his hand up, smacking the hand away from his face.
Both silver demons stared at each other, neither sure of what to do or say, but knowing their situation was becoming increasingly dangerous. Suddenly a knock at the door broke the trance and Kurama gathered himself enough to walk past Sessho-maru, but not before the inu grabbed his bicep in a firm grip, holding him in place.
"Speak your mind. Now."
For the briefest of seconds, Kurama was tempted to follow the order. He was ready to voice his jealousy and confusion over the inu youkai, but then a voice intruded and his guards were firmly in place once again.
"Lord Sessho-maru? I have come at the behest of my Lady Lena."
"Y-your lady calls…..master."
Kurama felt Sessho-maru's grip slacken and he made his way to the door and opened it, not even looking at the servant in front of him. He kept his head bowed and waited for Sessho-maru to approach.
Sessho-maru gathered himself together quickly and came to the door.
"Oh, um, I'm terribly sorry, my Lord if I, uh, have….interrupted anything."
Sessho-maru followed the eyes of the servant and he suddenly realized how the situation must have looked. Both he and Kurama were flushed and he himself was half dressed. I can use this to my advantage.
"What is your message?"
"My lady would like to invite you to a private dinner, my Lord."
"Thank your Lady for her great honor, but as you can see I am otherwise occupied. My appetites this evening are not of the nutritional sort."
"Y-yes, my Lord Sessho-maru. Again, I am sorry to have interrupted."
Sessho-maru merely nodded and retreated into his quarters, leaving Kurama to close the door. As the kitsune walked forward, closing the large wooden door, he looked up to see the servant looking at him in disgust. Kurama gave him a wicked smile as he disappeared behind the door.
Kurama turned to face the room and found Sessho-maru was by the window, his back to Kurama. The kitsune leaned back against the door and bowed his head. Despite being interrupted tension still hung in the air. Now what? If we hadn't been interrupted, I may have told him everything.
"I think that should sufficiently end our stay here. Don't you?"
"Hmph. Why should this make a difference? I'm just the momentary distraction, remember?"
Sessho-maru turned to face Kurama and saw the hung head and heard the bitterness in the kitsune's voice. He quietly made his way over to Kurama and reached out, tilting the kitsune's face to meet his own.
"You underestimate your value….Treasure."
Kurama searched the golden eyes for any clues to the meaning of his statement, but the inu was closed off to him once again. In an effort to avoid the situation he found himself in before the servant showed up, Kurama turned his head away.
"Master."
Sessho-maru gazed in wonder at the picture before him and knew he was in trouble. Kurama was proving to be a challenge for him in the worst kind of way. Golden eyes drank in the beauty of the silver hair cascading across the pink tinted cheeks and down the elegant neck. Sessho-maru swallowed hard and stepped away from Kurama.
"Go pack our things. We will be leaving tomorrow."
Kurama looked up at the retreating figure, and tried to voice his doubt in Sessho-maru's thinking, but nothing would come out. He watched as Sessho-maru picked up a book he'd discarded on a nearby table and then sat down in the chair by the window. He opened the book and didn't pay Kurama any more attention.
"Master."
To be continued…..