I do not own Inuyasha
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Melissa fidgeted as she recited the sentences her tutor gave her. Her legs were killing her. And she rather thought she'd get enough practice sitting seiza that night, Kimiko had company. A powerful Daiyoukai, a tanuki from the north, was visiting with his household. Melissa would be presented as Sesshomaru's betrothed and then expected to act like a proper little lady throughout dinner.
She was not looking forward to it. With no title or power she was expected to be quiet unless spoken to. To be seen and not heard. Just a pretty face at the table. She'd much rather just have dinner by herself in her room.
She fidgeted again and her instructor began to scold her again. She was about to give him a piece of her mind when a deep voice stated, "This lesson is over for today. I wish to speak to her, leave us."
Melissa beamed at Sesshomaru as he strode across the room. He was in his travelling clothes but without Jaken or his armor. She would have run to meet him but she wasn't sure she could get up by herself so she stayed seated and he took the seat vacated by her teacher. He reached out to caress her face then looked over at Granny sitting in a corner. "I said leave us."
"Oh, was that meant for both of us, Maruchan? I thought it was simply directed at the tutor, you really should be more specific." She then took her time wrapping her needlework and placing it in her sleeve. She stood and brushed away an imaginary crease then ambled slowly towards the door.
"Don't forget Maruchan, your mother has company." He was aware of that fact. That was precisely why he wanted to speak with Melissa now, it would be hours before he'd have another chance to spend time alone with her.
As soon as Granny slid the door closed behind her he captured Melissa's lips and wrapped his arms around her. She panted slightly when they came up for breath and stared deep into his eyes. She was so beautiful. He wanted nothing more than to take her to his bed and show her how much she'd been missed, but there wasn't time for that.
He would have to be content with kissing her for now. He leaned to her and caught her lips again. He leaned against her so heavily that she was pressed to the floor and she unfolded her legs as she leaned back. He trailed kisses along her jaw then worked his way down her neck.
"I have missed you." He mumbled against her neck. She moaned softly as he marked the delicate flesh with hickies. "Melissa, there is an enchantment on the royal quarters, a privacy measure. While we can hear noises from the hall, once the door in closed none can hear what is happening within my chamber. When I take you to bed make as much noise as you please." She made a soft sound of acknowledgement as he kissed lower down her neck.
"While I do hope my grandchildren are intelligent I would prefer if you did not conceive them in my study." His mother stated as announcement of her presence. Sesshomaru jumped to his feet and was quickly followed by Melissa who turned beet red as she stood by her lover.
Next to his mother stood an ancient daiyoukai with a long wispy beard. His eyes twinkled with amusement and he chuckled softly. "Perhaps leniency should be shown. After all, they are young. It is the nature of youth to be reckless or get carried away. And who can blame him? The girl is attractive, human, but lovely none the less.
"Sesshomaru, you truly are your father's son. Tougasama made many unusual choices, but those of us who valued his counsel were inclined to overlook his eccentricities. I certainly hope you continue to follow in his footsteps. I admit, I have worried about you, young one."
Sesshomaru couldn't think of an answer to that so he merely Introduced Melissa to the elderly tanuki, Daichi. Then they excused themselves to get ready for dinner. Granny had been waiting in the hall for them and had heard his mother. Though she found what happened rather amusing as well she was Sesshomaru's old nursemaid and so saw it as her duty to deliver a light scolding before helping Melissa out of her many layers of silk.
Jaken, who had been sent to the room upon arrival to put up his armor and find his formal clothes, was sent out of the room. Sesshomaru watched as Granny stripped Melissa then stepped behind the privacy screen to change into his own evening wear. True, Granny had already seen everything he had, she used to change his diapers, still he didn't wish to expose himself to her.
"Now mind your manners, Sesshomaru!" Granny admonished as they stepped out into the hall.
"Sesshomarusama has perfect manners!" Jaken yelled. Sesshomaru ignored them and turned down the hall to make his way to his mother's dining room. Granny looked at Jaken and raised her eyebrows questioningly as if to ask 'really?' Jaken paused, shrugged, then finally shook his head and scurried after his lord and lady.
Melissa was introduced by Sesshomaru's mother as she was the lady of the house. Sesshomaru quietly moved his cushion just a little closer to Melissa's as they sat down. Jaken, Granny, and Kumiko stood near the farthest wall, as did a few servants brought by their guests, in case their services were needed as the tables were set.
There were so many dishes that each person had multiple tables to hold all the food. The crowding meant Sesshomaru was able to reach out and touch Melissa under the tables without anyone noticing. At first her just reached out and touched her hand. The first time he did it she glanced at him and grinned, though she didn't speak to him, she didn't want to draw attention to them.
Sesshomaru had no such inhibitions, he knew no one could see what he was doing and participated fully in conversation even as he began to stroke Melissa's thigh. She didn't realize he had begun to move layers of silk aside until she felt his fingers on the bare skin of her leg. Turning red she quietly pushed his hand away then discreetly moved the silk back in place to cover her leg.
Sesshomaru allowed her to push his hand away and left her leg alone, for a little bit. After the time it took her to complete another cup of sake he began again. She turned red and glanced at him, he smirked at her then answered a question from one of Daichi's daughters. Melissa wasn't sure what the question was because she was having difficulty paying attention. She pushed his hand away and smoothed the silk down over her leg again.
She gave up when he did it later that night, Sesshomaru always did what he wanted. Besides, no one seemed to have notice earlier and more sake had been drunk since then. And it wasn't unpleasant, she did enjoy being touched by him, just this was a bit more public than she liked.
Sesshomaru glanced at her, oh how he wanted her! Once this boring dinner was over he was going to ravish her. He planned to utterly destroy her to night, when he was done she wouldn't be able to stand! Smirking at that thought he slipped his hand further over.
Melissa's breath caught and she blushed again when she felt his hand move over her womanhood. Kimiko noticed and asked her if she felt ok. She nodded and said she did. Sesshomaru moved his hand away from her privates, not wishing to risk getting caught. He missed the slight narrowing of his mother's eyes.
Sesshomaru could smell her desire. He knew everyone could, but it didn't matter, her desire was for him and him alone. Once everyone was distracted by Daichi's oldest daughter telling a story he moved his hand back to her privates, she'd be soaking for him by the time they got to bed. He had to work hard to suppress his smiled and slid a finger between her folds to rub her clit a few times.
He continued to reach over and play with her womanhood throughout the night. His own arousal had increased as he teased her's. Both were nearly in pain with desire for eachother's bodies. It was late, much sake had been consumed, and Daichi's son was telling such a dry, rambling story that everyone was in a stupor. No one would notice if they left quietly.
He moved the silk back over Melissa's lap and silently pulled her to her feet. He caught Granny's disapproving gaze as they left, but she wasn't going to do anything tonight. She would never make a scene in front of company. He'd likely pay later, but right now he didn't fucking care. He'd make sure tomorrow it was understood Melissa was only obeying her husband, well, husband-to-be.
As soon as they were out of the dining room he shoved her up against a wall with his hands around her small waist. They began making out. Melissa's started to moan as he placed hickies on her neck but he hushed her with his lips.
"You must be silent until we reach our chambers my love." He whispered softly, "Until the door is closed they could hear us." Being quiet as they made out all the way down the hallway was not easy but they managed.
Sesshomaru slid the door behind them carelessly as he kissed her collarbone. He pulled her kimonos off quickly, ripping them in the process and clamped his lips around one of her nipples as she moaned in pleasure. He picked her up and tossed her down on the futon. She giggled and gazed up at him as he pulled off his on clothing. He moved over her and groaned in pleasure as he finally slid into her.
"I've missed your body!" He moaned. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and began to moan and whimper as he began pounding in to her hard and fast.
He was mid thrust and balls deep in her when he heard a voice that wasn't Melissa's call his name, his mother didn't sound happy. Melissa's eyes snapped open and they both looked over to the door. His stomach sank, in his haste to be inside of her he hadn't shut it properly. A gap of a quarter inch remained, his mother and her guests had heard everything.
Then the door slid open. His mother's lips were turned up in a tight smile and her eyes were flashing, she was neither pleased nor amused by their antics. "Sesshomaru, the next time you sneak away from a political dinner to sate your carnal appetite I hope you will at least make sure you shut the door properly. You two are making quite a racket. Well do carry on, I look forward to seeing the child you two are working so diligently to create."
Once the door and been shut they looked at each other and he rolled off in frustration. There was no continuing, the instant his mother had opened the door he had gone as limp as overcooked asparagus inside her. They would have to be content to just cuddle for the rest of the night.
He held her tightly to his chest and licked and kissed her forehead as he ran his hands along her arms. She cuddled tightly against him and sighed in contentment. He ran his hand over the shrapnel he'd noticed under the skin of her arm months ago. "Melissa, how did you get shrapnel in your arm?"
"What?" She asked sleepily
"The shrapnel, were you in a battle or an accident?" He asked, running his hands all over her soft skin. She furrowed her forehead in confusion, what was he talking about?
"It's ok, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"I do not understand." She said slowly, "I not have... I do not have shrapnel."
He took her hand and placed her fingers over the object in question. "What is it?"
Her eyes went wide and she sat up quickly, placing her hand over her mouth, She hadn't told him about the implant. She had forgotten about it. Her old life seemed so long ago... How could she explain what it was, what it meant, what would eventually happen when it ran out?
"Melissa? What is wrong, my dear?" He asked sitting up and wrapping his arms around her.
"I sorry! I sorry! I not mean not say, I forget, I sorry!" She sobbed, working herself into hysterics. Sesshomaru did not know what to do for her so he simply pulled her into his lap and held her.
"It is ok my love, I know that you would never intentionally keep a secret from this Sesshomaru. You come from a completely different world than I. There will be things you don't know to tell me and others that simply have not come up, like this. This is the first time I have asked about it."
She calmed herself, taking slow deep breaths as she tried to bring her crying under control. She needed to speak as clearly as possible, to be sure she was understood. "Sesshomaru, is not shrapnel, it is medicine. Medicine I get years ago."
"You were ill?" he asked brushing her hair back from her face to look at her
"No, not that kind medicine. Sesshomaru, you know I cannot have babies."
"Yes, I understand you are barren, it is not an issue for me."
"What... is barren?" She asked, not knowing the word.
"It means that you cannot conceive."
"Conceive?"
"Become pregnant. Melissa I have told you, I do not care. You are more than a womb to me."
She cried again and shook her head. That's what he thought she'd meant, but it wasn't. She'd never said she couldn't conceive. "I not able carry. Medicine stop me try. Medicine... Medicine make barren."
Sesshomaru stared at her, that didn't make sense. He must have misunderstood her. "You are saying you rendered your self barren? Why? You want children, I know you do."
She took a deep breath, she had to make him understand. "Sesshomaru, I get pregnant. Not have baby, not carry. Get medicine so I not hurt again."
He stared at her for a long time. Then pulled her close, his heart breaking for her as understanding dawned. "How many miscarriages have you had?"
"Four." She sobbed against his chest. He stroked her back and tightened his hold on her. He had thought the Gods were cruel before, but he was wrong. There were no gods and the heavens were ruled by monsters.
"Medicine not last for always. Last three years. I not want you hurt, you not have to marry me."
"I will marry you. I do not wish for you to hurt anymore but if you must you will not face such pain alone. What will be will be, but I will be by your side through it."
She continued to cry against him for a long time. Eventually she cried herself to sleep. He lay next to her and watched her, stroking her tear stained face. He was consumed with pain for her, for his unborn children. But then again, her first husband had been human. His children would be stronger, maybe they could survive her womb. If not they would hold each other and mourn for their children together. But she said they wouldn't have to worry about that for three years.
The children had probably just been too weak to live. Their father had been weak. Weak enough to need to hit a woman. Sesshomaru would never strike her, nor would anyone who wished to live.