By the time I finished those stupid lessons, I was sorer than I would have been because of training. What Teach calls "chastisement" with those rulers, I call "domestic abuse." I tend not to understand things until trying them several times, so that also means that I get "chastised" several times I learn something new, or add onto something I have already learned. At this rate, I'm more likely to die by Teach's hands than by all of Sesshomaru's enemies. When I finished my last class, it was late afternoon, and my body desperately cried out for a relaxing, hot, bath.
As I made my way toward my personal bath house I overheard two guards talking. I planned on just walking by, but when I actually listened to their conversation, something in my gut told me to stop and listen. Deciding to go with my gut, and hid around the corner.
"It is hard to believe that it is approaching so quickly." The first one said.
"The first half of the process has already been completed. Lord Sesshomaru will be able to breeze through the rest of the process seeing that my Lady's family has seemingly already consented."
"It seems as though it was only yesterday that she arrived in the manor."
"I agree. It is hard to believe that by the first crescent moon of the new cycle, she will be the new Lady of the West."
"Lord Sesshomaru wasted no time with this mating. He must truly hold her dearly."
"The entire kingdom will be reveling."
"The town starts their decorating in two days' time, correct?"
"Indeed. Lord Sesshomaru took our Lady there the previous day, as customs demands."
"Then we wait on the moon."
I didn't notice that the voices were getting closer until the two guards turned the corner. I stared at their faces in surprise, as they did the same to me.
"My Lady!" They both exclaimed as they bowed.
"Oh… um…"
I was too flustered to say anything. Instead, I continued to my bath house and started on bathing myself. After washing myself, I remained in the water, thinking about what I had just heard. I would be mated by next month. When was Sesshomaru planning on telling me this? I would have liked to hear it from him, and not some guards. Yesterday's trip was nothing special. I honestly thought Sesshomaru wanted to spend some time with me, not that this new information necessarily changes that, but now it's more of a killing two birds with one stone situation. It's not unique anymore, just a hoop he had to jump through.
I sighed. Even at this point in the process, he's not telling me everything. What else is he hiding? Perhaps he bought all those "presents" for me to embellish the mating day outfit he's already chosen. I shouldn't be so aggravated by this, but how could I be happy about it? Am I supposed to just shrug my shoulders and go along with it?
You're making a huge deal out of nothing. [I]
'Am I, really? It's equivalent to a random guy at work coming up to you and congratulating you on your engagement before your boyfriend proposes.' [Me]
No, it's not. Sesshomaru already told you that the mating was close. It's not as though you had no idea this was coming. [I]
'Yes, I knew it was coming, but not this quickly!' [Me]
Let's calm down. We know it's hard to understand, and that's why it's imperative that we clarify with Sesshomaru. [Myself]
Clarify what? He told us TODAY that the mating was soon. [I]
'Do you know how vague that was?! Soon could be a year from now, like most engagements!' [Me]
This is feudal Japan! We have no clue on the average engagement is, especially for demons! [I]
'I'd assume it's a longer process because demons don't get married and don't have children as quickly as humans do.' [Me]
… I guess I would have liked to know this would be my last month as a single lady. I wouldn't have worried this morning either… even after I asked him to be direct with me, he wasn't. There are a lot of things that he has refused to do for me, but that request... I may be able to see around his guises sometimes, but I still worry over those few times I can't, like now.
I got out of the bath and allowed the maids to dress me in a clean kimono. I went back to my room and laid down on the bed. I could still smell Sesshomaru's scent on the sheets, filling my head with all sorts of thoughts. I have no problem with us mating in a month's times, but I still couldn't keep myself from feeling upset? Is there a reason for his lack of communication? The entire reason behind my asking of him to be more direct was because we haven't been communicating as straight forwardly as we used to. He didn't tell me about the "introduction party," as I like to call it, with all the lords of the West, North, and South or his intention behind taking me into town. I don't enjoy finding out all of this information so close to when it takes place. Is there reason why he didn't tell me? I don't exactly enjoy figuring this stuff out from other people, especially after I asked him to tell me about things like this. I don't think I'll tell him that I know about the mating being a month away. I let him find out the way I did. If there's one thing I know about myself, I know I'm a spiteful being.
Right as I made up my mind, Rin jumped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling with me.
"How about we relax for today, maybe we can do something tomorrow." I told her.
She agreed. We were both laying on the bed, staring at the ceiling as we took a moment from our hectic worlds to sit and do nothing, After I took a deep breath, the little girl was up, asking if we had relaxed enough. I'll give her credit for trying. I willed myself up, and followed behind a hyper Rin to where ever her heart desired.
"Hurry Kazumi-san, or else we'll get caught!" Rin shouted softly at me.
I followed her orders and picked up my pace. We were going to one of THOSE places.
"Where exactly are we going?" I asked.
"It's a secret." She replied before giggling softly.
Not long after, we arrived at a door that I didn't know existed.
"I don't know what's behind the door, but I do know that a lot of the maids and guards have been going back and forth from here."
"And how do you know that?" I asked her.
She ignored my question, and started to open the door. I decided to show a little more authority. I may enjoy Rin's company, and treat her as a friend and family member, but I don't enjoy being ignored by people younger than me when I ask them a question. Yes, I know she's ignoring me. She's growing up, though I don't want her too, and she understands a lot more than she did three years ago. That also means that she's also learning more ways to respond to situations, not that she didn't know how to ignore people before, and she seems to be using them with me as well now. I kept Rin from opening the door and got her to face me.
"I'll ask again. How do you know about this?" I asked her as I crouched down to her height.
"Well…"
"Rin."
"I may have… taken a break from my lessons…"
"So you were skipping again." I summed up.
Her silence told me that I was right.
"Rin, you are only hurting yourself when you skip classes. Lord Sesshomaru is doing a lot to have you educated, so even though you don't like it, do it for Sesshomaru. Okay?"
"Okay." She said somberly.
"You won't get off so easily if you skip your classes again." I waited for her to nod her head. "Good, now go to bed, I'll be there in a few minutes."
She followed my instructions and went to her room. As for me, my own curiosity was peaked. What was behind the door? Why would maids and guards focus their attention here? I stared at the door before putting my hands on it to open it. It's not as though there's something that can hurt me behind it.
"Kazumi!" I heard Sesshomaru call from a few feet away. I quickly removed my hands and put the behind my back.
"Yes?" I asked.
From simply looking in his eyes, I could tell something was wrong. I backed away from the door, and stared at him as he walked toward me.
"Hey Sesshomaru, what's-"
He grabbed my arms and forced me against a wall. The words flew out of my mind as he nuzzled me aggressively, pecking and biting at my neck. I maintained little space between us as I felt his want for me through his hands.
"Sess-"
He cut me off with a kiss, shoving his tongue into my mouth without my consent. The heat that made its way onto my cheeks was unbearable. Why was he suddenly smothering me? I couldn't help but to be dragged into his passion as my own started to come forth. I have no idea how far it would have gone if two guards on patrol hadn't caught us in the act.
Their intrusion brought me out of my daze and I realized that Sesshomaru's hands reached under my kimono. Out of embarrassment of being caught in the middle of such an act and anger from his sudden encroaching on my personal space, I got him off of me with a huff. To make things worse, I remembered how he was still keeping secrets from me. He expects me to give him what he wants, when he wants it, but he can't tell do me the favor of telling me when I'm getting married? At the same time, the fact that I was so willing to give in to him made me more flustered at myself than anyone else. Do I just lack conviction, or am I just an idiot that doesn't know what her conviction is?
"Baka…" I muttered out of frustration. How could I be so thoughtless?
