We left early the next morning, after saddling Ah-Un up. As we set out, I realized that Sesshomaru was missing. When I asked one of the guards where he was, they informed me that he told them to head off without him. Of course I wasn't going to do that, and I know he knows that I know that I wasn't going to do that. I returned to the complex and started my search for him. I lifted my chin and looked for his scent. Unfortunately, there was still snow here. I decided to take stabs in the dark after instructing the guards to go one without me. I walked throughout the compound, searching for him. The main hall, the room meetings were held in, back halls, dining rooms, I couldn't find him. I eventually found myself sitting in the garden. It had to be around high afternoon. I should have left with the others. I just wasted my time searching for him. It's just that… I didn't see him for the rest of the day yesterday, and now this morning. I wanted to make sure that everything was alright, but I guess that will have to wait.
I sighed before pushing myself off of the bench. If I hurry, I could catch up with the others, but there is always danger in the space between us. Going alone would be stupid, then again, staying here alone was just as stupid.
"You are still here." An all too familiar voice said as he appeared before me and took my hand to kiss it.
I let him, knowing that refusing to let him would be rude. I kept silent, waiting to hear why he approached me.
"I thought you were to leave with the rest of your group."
"I go nowhere without my mate." I responded.
"I assume that he did not inform you of his later departure, seeing that you are not with him now." He said as he let go of my hand.
"I must be going." I said as I started to walk away from him.
"Why not stay a while longer?" he asked as he reached for my hand.
"I would appreciate if you stopped your attempts to get closer to me." I said as I snatched my hand out of his reach. I walked closer to him with a scowl deeply written on my face. "I want none other than my mate. Don't you dare to even try to come between us. I was willing to show your sister mercy, but I will show you no mercy."
I couldn't stop the growl that rumbled in my throat and chest. Beast was losing her cool, and so was I.
"I have done you no wrong, unlike my sister."
"No physical damage to me will ever compare to any assault to my mating. I am willing to relent from taking a daughter for the prior, but I will not relent from taking an heir for the later." I said before distancing myself from the man. "Heed my warning."
"Kazumi." I heard Sesshomaru call.
When my eyes found him, my feet made no hesitation to place me by his side.
"Then I assume this is goodbye." Yuki said with a bow.
I bowed back before following Sesshomaru out.
We left the village less than thirty minutes later. We walked in silence, listening to nothing but our silent footsteps. I looked around, refraining from asking questions. Once we were a good deal away from the village, the first words were spoken.
"What is it that that man said that angered you so?"
"There's no need to worry about it."
"You slurred you word."
"I always do."
"No. When you were speaking with him, you slurred your word. You make a point to avoid slurring when in the presence of others. What angered you to where your beast almost left your control?"
I remained silent, wondering how observant Sesshomaru really was.
"Kazumi."
"What were you doing that made you depart later than us, and why didn't you tell me?" I asked.
"I was discussing the terms of the probation with Yuu."
"That doesn't explain you decided to not tell me. I want you to tell me when something's wrong. How can I be of help otherwise?"
Sesshomaru took my hand, and led me off of the trail. When I attempted to get us back on track, he held me against a tree.
"Kazumi, I want to ravage you."
"Sess-"
"I want you more than anything, yet I cannot have you, not yet. Simply being near you tests my bounds."
I couldn't find any words to say, not that I could think of anything to say to begin with.
"Now, what angered you?" He asked.
"… He said that you would prefer your second mate over me, so he tried to win my favor now."
I could feel his agitation before he even knew what he was feeling.
"I will kill him."
"It's fine."
"It is not."
"Let it go."
"That tribe has offended me two to many times."
"Sesshomaru, stay calm."
"I will not show mercy again."
The raspy voice that came from his mouth was foreign. I instinctively backed away from him, withdrawing my touch and trust. I didn't know the person in front of me, and I didn't want to find out. His growls were so fierce, so bloodthirsty; it terrified me. I was glad that he was staring in the direction of the village we had just left instead of me. I was afraid that his gaze would kill me, still the blood in my veins, and stop my heart for beating so foolishly. When he did gaze at me, I closed my eyes and looked the other way. My body tensed up as I braced myself for the worst. Every hair on my body stood as a cold sweat started to form on my brow.
Whatever I was expecting to happen didn't happen, thankfully. When the atmosphere lightened, and a familiar touch traced my back, I opened my eyes. I was swept off my feet, and found that I was flying with Sesshomaru. I didn't say a word as we flew back to the manor.
As it would turn out, we arrived mid-evening, and before the others. Everything was back to normal. Once I was back inside the manor walls, I found Rin's arms wrapped around my waist. She let go and bowed to Sesshomaru, welcoming him back as well. She then excused herself to bring tea to us. The guards arrived seconds later. I thanked them and told them that they did a good job. Sesshomaru dismissed them, and they returned to their regular positions.
The rest of my short day was spent drinking tea with Rin. She caught me back up to date with all of which I had missed while I was away. Seeing Rin's smiling face brought a sense of peace to my heart. I decided to omit the little incidents that occurred during the trip. I'd prefer if things remained in this calm state.
I listened to every word Rin had to say, watching her eyes glimmer with growing curiosity. Before we knew it, the sun had set, and Rin had to get ready for bed. Once she was settled down in bed, I wished her goodnight and left her room. I let my feet take me wherever they wanted to go. As I walked down the halls aimlessly, my beast started to stir, wanting to break free. I tried to speak with her, but she gave me no reply. That was very unlike Beast. I stopped where I was and tried to invoke a conversation again. Her reply was a growl fiercer than any one I could ever conjure. In my state of nervous surprise, I allowed myself to be pulled into the bedroom Sesshomaru and I shared. He placed me in his embrace again, wrapping me in his tail.
"What's going on?" I asked him.
"Our beasts…" he started.
I waited for him to finish his thought. When he didn't, I looked into his eyes and found that they were completely red.
"You couldn't wait, could you?" I heard Beast say as she stole control.
"You have kept me waiting long enough." Sesshomaru's beast replied as he threw my body onto the bed and took the dominant position. "There is no escape now."
"…"
"Have I finally stilled that beguiling tongue?" he asked as he pinned beast down.
She refused to speak.
"I will hear your voice, whether you wish it or not." he said before planting a kiss on my distant lips. When my beast tried to refuse him, he forced himself upon her. His claws sank into her shoulders to still his prey as his eyes washed over her and the blood he had drawn from her with his claws.
The two beasts always quarreled with each other, growled at each other with snarls engrained in their features, but it was as the male beast had said long ago. He wished to dominate, and under the mask the female wore was the desire to be dominated. Sesshomaru's beast was willing to rip that mask off of his mate's beast, to force her into submission, and to take her as his own, to make the woman belong to Sesshomaru completely. She resisted him all this time, taunting him with her words, body, and scent, but now, she had thrown herself too far. Escape was impossible. This cunning beast had nowhere to run, and Sesshomaru's would take advantage of it.
The woman's beast tried to keep her head leveled as he forced himself onto her. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he had trapped her. The cat had finally caught the mouse, but the mouse refused to accept its fate.
"Why fight any longer?" the man's beast growled in her ear, exciting her. "You want this."
"You misread me."
"I know how you work." Sesshomaru's beast said as it took its claws out of his mate's shoulders. "You attempt to dissuade yourself, not me. You want to keep your composure, but I will not allow it. I will make you squirm until you give in. Your moans will fill this place."
His hands found their way into her kimono. Her hands reached to stop his, but had no strength behind them. He tore off her clothes, destroying any chance of her keeping herself dressed. She growled at him before attempting to swipe him away. Annoyed by her attempt, he caught her wrist and flipped her onto her stomach. He held pulled her arm behind her and pressed against her back, threatening to pull the limb out of joint. Her other hand dug into the bed, trying to give some type of relief from the pain he was causing her.
"Your fight is in vain." He whispered to her again. "Give yourself to me."
His hands traced down her back as his canines sank into her skin. After her initial thrashing about, she let go of herself, loosening her body to his delight. She accepted defeat, and allowed him to claim his spoil of war. She allowed herself to be smothered by his presence and scent, allowing him to mark her as his own. She remained quiet as he pleased himself with her. It wasn't until she felt him within her that her arms clung onto him. As euphoria engulfed the two wild beasts, their passion only intensified. They were the embodiment of raw, uncontrolled instinct and emotion, and this fact became evident as their aggression with each other grew.
"Release me!" she screamed as her fire was lit again.
"And allow you to run?" he questioned as his grip hardened.
The woman's body became animate once more as she started to fight again, pushing away from him and bearing her claws against him. The man's response was to sink his claws into her body once again. The woman convulsed as she tried to pry his claws out of her sides. Using his grip on her as leverage, he calmed the woman, and pushed himself further into her.
"You cannot resist."
"I can." She replied weakly.
"You want me."
"I despise you."
"You need me."
"I need nothing."
"You love me."
"Are you daft?"
"Look at yourself. You say that you despise me, and that you do not need me, yet your body trembles with excitement. Your eyes plead for more. Your hands have been stilled, and cling onto me. Stop this fight. You need not prove yourself of anything."
"That was never my intention."
"Your intention does not matter." He said as he removed his claws from her side. "You have seduced me, and I take what I want. You belong to me, and none other. You can no longer tempt any man other than the fool you have already enticed."
"Is that so?"
"It is."
"I do not seduce fools." She said in reply.
"Then you understand what I am saying."
"Are you sure you are a beast? I have never heard of a beast using words to win a companion."
"As you said, I am no fool. Actions will not convince you to allow me to have my way with you."
"You can teach an old dog new tricks then."
"You are much too young to try and teach me anything." He said with softening eyes.
"Are you love-struck? Where has your ferocity gone?"
"Do you think I would be willing to speak with you if my ferocity roamed free?"
"That's no good." She said as she laid him down. "Show me, just how much you wish to claim the vixen who has kept you in chase. Let it out on me. Make me yours. You've proved more than enough to me." She said before placing a kiss on his neck and sparking a new fire within him.
When I woke up, my body was sore beyond belief. The raw skin on my body showed me where our bodies had collided too often, and the bruises told me where he had bitten me or where his claws had pierced my skin. My red stained skin revealed where his sharp claws had ran over. Sesshomaru escaped with only a few cuts and bruises. My beast had been much nicer to him than his had been to me. I guess it was my beasts fault for instigating such harsh treatment. I could barely move, and when I managed to move slightly, Sesshomaru pulled me closer. I could feel his hands running through my hair as I felt his gaze on my neck.
"I am surprised you are awake." he commented before nuzzling me.
"And why so?" I asked.
"It was a rough night." He said as his hands traced over my hips, sending a chill of desire down my back.
"…You want to do it again, don't you?" I asked as a blush popped onto my cheeks.
His hands hovered over my thighs now, hinting at his desire to have me in his arms again.
"So long as you're gentle…" I said as I looked away from him.
"Were you not the one who said it was not rough enough last night?"
I kept quiet.
"Which would you prefer?" Sesshomaru asked as his hands moved up my thighs.
"… be as rough as you want." I gave in. My legs twitched with anticipation as they were spread apart once more. I ached for him, and so he gave himself to me, bringing the passionate sensation back to the room, filling the air with static and heat.
