Chapter 4: Shifting tides

Fingers tracing the snapdragons' soft petals, Kagome stood alone in the garden. Her steamy encounter with the silver haired king still fresh in the mind, sullied by the phantom pain of her cheek. How could she have forgotten the taste of blood? Tonguing her inner cheek, Kagome searched for the small lesion from the toothy collision with her flesh. Caressing the area with her tongue, the feeling of foolishness crept over her. What was she thinking? Standing there blushing and hoping for affection from the same man whose hand struck her just hours before! Kagome's hand clenched in self hatred, crushing the snapdragon in the process.

'I mustn't fall for his tricks. A few flowers, breakfast and a garden will not sway me so easily!' Her thoughts were interrupted by a muffled cry. Kagome turned her head to the door that Inuyasha entered earlier and she took a step toward it. Another cry, this time louder and more distinct. Chestnut brown eyes widened and Kagome dropped the pulverized flower to her side. The cries were screams of passion, of elation and in the form of the king's name. The realization of what she was hearing washed over her, provoking her to exit the garden with haste. Thoughts swarmed around her mind creating a tornado of mixed emotions. Who was that? Is that why he left the garden? Why did she even care who it was? Kagome's feet carried her mindlessly to her chambers doorway. She threw open the door and flung herself onto the velvet bedspread, the tight embrace of her dress hindering her breathing.

'I will survive this, I have to.'

Days trickled into weeks and before Kagome knew it, it had been a month since she arrived at the castle. Encounters with the king lessened and when they did cross paths, Inuyasha was usually accompanied by Ayumi or another court member. He seemed to avoid her gaze but the young girl didn't mind too much. It made her goal of sliding through the experience that much easier. One of the other new members would have to end up pregnant and this whole thing would be done.

Lunch in the courtyard was easily Kagome's favorite thing, she got to be with her friends again and things began to feel normal.

"I heard a rumor that the king has been spending so much time with Ayumi that she will become pregnant any day now." Giggled Ayame, leaning into the table as if to whisper.

"If she is not already." Added Sango, laughing along with her friend. Kagome chuckled slightly, eyes locked on her hands currently in her lap. They were right, this is exactly what she wanted so why didn't she feel happy about it? Often she would wonder if they were in the garden together or whether the king sent flowers to Ayumi's room for her bath. They could even be bathing together. This thought forced a pink blush to grace her cheeks. They did both have nice figures so it would be a pleasant sight but at the same time she felt a jealous sting in her heart.

"Kagome? Are you feeling well?" Asked Sango as she placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. Kagome snapped out of her thoughts and smiled at her friends.

"Yes, yes I am just fine, sorry I was lost in my thoughts." She replied with a nod. Sango stared at her for a moment before speaking again.

"Well I have kitchen duties today so I shall be off." She offered a smile and a slight bow before leaving the courtyard. Ayame stared at Kagome, reaching for her friend's hand, a curious smirk crept onto her face.

"So have you been having meetings with the king as well?" She asked. Kagome's eyes grew wide and she offered a nervous laugh.

"W-what? Not at all. Why would you ask such a silly thing?" The raven haired woman tried to play down the uneasy sound of her voice. She hadn't been meeting with him so why did that question make her face flush and her heart pump. Ayame slid her chair closer to Kagome's.

"No need to be shy, love. I had a meeting with him myself a few days ago." Ayame whispered softly. Kagome turned her head to look at the red head, a look of surprise on her face. Ayame leaned back and shrugged her shoulders.

"It was surprisingly uneventful. A bath with flowers and to sleep next to him. Barely even touched me if I am honest." Ayame crossed her arms across her chest as she spoke. The gears turned in Kagome's head, a bath, with flowers?

"We're they jasmine flowers?" Kagome asked hands on the table and eyes glued to Ayame awaiting a response. Ayame shrugged once more and told her inquisitive friend she had no idea what kind of flowers and how different this night was from any other she shared with the king.

"Little white flowers?" Kagome persisted.

"Why, yes they were white and smelled quite splendid." She replied while tapping a finger on her temple as if you awaken the memory.

So they were jasmine flowers, I wonder if that is his favorite scent? Kagome lost herself once more in thoughts about whether the flowers were a coincidence or not. Her fiery haired friend pulled her out once more.

"If I am sincere, I was hoping for this rough and unexpected night everyone has been going on about. They say his majesty is quite a beast in the bedroom as of late, and all I get is a flowery bath." Ayame said slumping back into her chair and crossing her arms once more, releasing a heavy sigh. Her emerald eyes glanced back at Kagome, drowning in her own thoughts.

"So, now you can tell me, right? What was your experience?"

Kagome tilted her head to the partly cloudy sky and smiled before responding.

"I have not spent any time with him since breakfast in the garden." A somber look washed over Kagome's face when she spoke. Her head angled to the sky, she felt her heart wish for the smell of jasmine flowers.

Kagome learned much more than she needed to from her lunch with her friends. Somehow the knowledge made her feel afraid and uneasy, even though everything she hoped for when she came here was happening. She walked through the castle eyes fixed on her feet. Placing a hand on the wooden door of her chamber, Kagome took a deep breath and entered.

"Kagome!"

Quickly her body was bombarded with a smaller one, a form she was familiar with but surprised to see.

"S-sota!?" Kagome stuttered with surprise at the tiny boy grabbing her waist. He cried into her dress and squeezed her figure close. Kagome looked up at her mother smiling back at her.

"Mother?" Her lip quivered and the tears overflowed down her face, rolling down her cheeks. Kagome's mother walked towards her and joined the young boy in his embrace. All the strength in Kagome's knees gave way and she sunk into the cradle of her family's arms. After a while lumped together, the small family sat in Kagome's room ready to catch up.

"Did you come to visit me?" Questioned the raven haired girl, tears still in her eyes. Her mother clasped her hands together and smiled.

"I am very pleased you asked. We are to run the shrine here at the castle on the king's orders. We will be just a short ride away."

Kagome began to cry once more but all the tears were that of happiness. She missed her family and now that they were to be so close, everything would surpass her expectations. Kagome grasped her mother's hands in her own and grinned. The older woman explained that Kagome's grandfather would be joining them in a few days, he stayed behind to wrap up a few things with the new farm owners.

"Kagome, what is this?" Asked Sota poking at a basket on an end table by the door. Kagome raised an eyebrow and shrugged. The young boy grasped the basket in a bear hug to his chest and brought it over to his sister. The surprise of her family's presence was so great she didn't notice the basket before. Unwrapping the ribbon, the first thing she noticed was the sheer bag of flowers, jasmine flowers. Kagome smiled softly and removed them from the basket. Surrounding the flowers was an assortment of fruit, candles and two roses. One red and another white on either side of the basket. Underneath everything was a small note on parchment paper.

Dearest Kagome, it is my hope that the presence of your family and this small token is enough to lift your spirits. It would please me for you to meet me in my garden for dinner tonight.

I look forward to seeing you tonight, his majesty, King Inuyasha.

Kagome read the note and every word made her heart skip a beat. Dinner in the garden sounds wonderful, but why now? Kagome folded the letter and placed it back into the basket before noticing her mother's stare.

"What did it say?" She asked her blushing daughter. Kagome laughed the question away and changed the subject. After enjoying their time together, Kagome's mother and brother made their way back to the shrine. With some encouraging words about visiting and one last hug, Kagome fared well to her relatives. The bubbly handmaiden that Kagome had grown fond of, met her in the chambers.

"My lady, I have picked out the perfect gown for dinner tonight!" She squealed, grasping Kagome's arm and leading her to a freshly drawn bath. Kagome sighed as she slid down into the water.

"Would you fetch the flowers in the basket just over there?" She asked pointing to the tan basket that sat on her bed. Kagome pulled the ribbon ties on the bag and added the white flowers to the hot tub water. The smell of jasmine in the air relaxed her and she found herself smiling and enjoying herself. It would be dark by the time they finished dinner and the flowers would be glowing along with the stars, she was eager to get there and see them.

Standing in front of the mirror, Kagome examined the velvet red gown. The gold embroidery in the front and around the neckline made her feel elegant and almost royal. She smiled at her reflection, the braided crown around her head left raven waves falling around her shoulders and her handmaiden insisted she wear the pearls she was previously gifted. Kagome admitted that she thought of wearing them but her pride blocked every attempt. Although the persistence of her helper wore on her nerves, Kagome felt a bond building and even began calling her by her name.

"Thank you, Eri. It really is beautiful." Kagome turned and smiled at the brown haired girl who returned her excited smile. She wrapped her arm around Eri and gave her a squeeze.

"Shall we?" Asked Eri, gesturing toward the door. Kagome took one last look in the mirror before offering a nod and exiting her room. The walk to the garden felt like waves of nervousness and excitement taking turns washing over her. Kagome took a deep breath, hugged Eri goodbye and pushed open the rod iron gate. Around the corner was the same table she sat at during their breakfast together. This time there was a deep red tablecloth draped over the table with a vase of flowers at the center. The king himself was missing but Kagome wasted no time taking a seat. She ran her hands over the cloth.

It is almost the same shade as my dress. She thought, beginning to feel silly for her dress choice. The creaking of the door opening shook her from her thoughts. Her gaze rose to meet the king's golden stare, Kagome stood and offered a bow before sinking back into her seat.

"I am charmed, you came." He smiled slightly and lowered into his chair across from the red clad woman.

"I was not informed I was in a position to decline." Kagome responded with a small smirk growing on her lips. The king returned her smirk with a raised brow.

"You are correct but I must say I expected a bit more fight." With that statement, Inuyasha raised a clawed hand and out popped a server balancing a large tray. The tray held two bowls and forks, steamed rice, unagi and onigiri. Kagome clasped her hands together and smiled.

"This looks splendid! I love unagi!" She exclaimed, reaching for her bowl without hesitation.

"Your mother was very helpful with the choice of menu for tonight." Chuckled Inuyasha, reaching for his bowl and filling it with rice and grilled eel. Kagome filled her mouth with eel as a slight blush snaked across her cheeks. He is the reason her family was here and he even thought about what she might like. All the reservations she held and the discontent with her situation, it all seemed so warnented, the king wasn't an all around bad guy after all. The dinner conversation began about the shrine her family was to run and shifted to trivial things, how well they handled mornings, their favorite time of day or even the activities that brought them joy.

"I am awful with early mornings, the sun is a villainous entity before noon." Inuyasha revealed. Kagome wanted to ask him how that worked out with all his responsibilities but felt the question may be too intrusive. She was the opposite of course, mornings were the start of a new day with new possibilities, the king scoffed at her optimistic approach.

"Green, I love the green of the grass and the trees. It's the color of life, that's what my father used to say." Kagome smiled but there was a melancholy about her aura when she spoke of her father. Not wanting to explore the realm of depressing past events, Kagome asked the king about his favorite shade.

"Red, bright, deep, all shades of red. I am quite fond of the shade you are wearing this evening." Inuyasha responded in a devilish manner, a smirk plastered on his face, brandishing a fang. Kagome looked away to hide the red glow about her face. She made an excuse about how her chamber maiden insisted she wear it, but within her heart she was happy for her persistence.

"What do you enjoy when you are not running the kingdom?" She asked, changing the topic. Inuyasha chuckled.

"I am always running the kingdom, but this garden is very important to me. I do not allow anyone to touch it, I care for it myself."

The somber look Kagome sported when she spoke of her father was now situated on the king's olive skin.

"It is beautiful, I can tell you love it. Back on the farm, my brother and I would talk and sing to the crops, helping them grow." Kagome smiled, not wanting to pry into the king's lowly mood. It proved successful and Inuyasha laughed at her offer that talking to plants helped them grow. Kagome chucked along and informed him that they had a plentiful harvest everytime.

When the couple finished their dinner, the sun had long disappeared behind the castle walls and the sky darkened.

"Jade vines?" Kagome said softly, gazing upon the glowing flowers that sat in between them.

"You remembered."Inuyasha nodded and gestured around them. Kagome took a look around at the glowing flora, coupled with the fireflies, it was a very dreamy scene. As if the environment needed more romance, the server popped back out, this time with violin in hand. The king rose from his seat, made his way around the table and offered Kagome his hand. A shaky hand slid into his and she was pulled to her feet. The violin sang a somber melody that seemed to fit the scenery perfectly. The king snaked an arm around Kagome's waist and lifted her hand up to plant a kiss in her fingers. Kagome's heart raced as the king held her close, they swayed to the melody flawlessly. Inuyasha towered above her, bright eyes fixed on her. Kagome took a long inhale and laid her head on his strong chest, she could hear the sound of his heartbeat and wondered if the pace had quickened or if that was the normal rhythm for a half demon. For a moment she forgot herself in the melody, where she was, why she was there, everything outside of the small garden seemed to melt away. A warm pleasant feeling filled Kagome's heart, as her arm settled on the king's waist. She felt Inuyasha lean down and take a deep inhale of her scent. He pulled the woman impossibly closer to him, his tone body warmed her tender one.

"I have longed for this scent since that day." He whispered to her, nuzzling into her hair. That explained the jasmine flowers Ayame spoke about, this revelation delighted Kagome and she melted further into their embrace. Her hand slid from his and joined the other wrapped around his trim waist. He was longing for her and though she wouldn't admit it, she had been yearning for him as well. Clawed hands traced her form, starting tangled in her hair and finding their way down her spine, savoring in her shivering response. The king raised a hand and waved the violinist away. The abrupt end to the music caused Kagome to raise her head to see the face of her king. His silver hair shimmered in the moonlight and his eyes seemed to glow, piercing her with intent. Kagome could feel the vigor behind his eyes, she had seen it once before, here in the garden. She wished she could enter his mind and rummage around for his thoughts on this moment but the answer came in a different way. Inuyasha lifted up Kagome's chin to make his intention clear, glancing at her mouth, leaning closer.

"May I?" He asked softly, just moments from her pillowy pink lips. Kagome felt her heart beat quicken and wondered if he sensed it's pace, if he didn't the red glow of her face would surely give her away. Scanning his face, her gaze settled on the fanged rim of his lips, without a word, she pushed herself up onto her toes and pressed her lips to his. Her eyelids fluttered closed and her hands moved up to explore the king's silver hair, finishing their way to his perched ears. Kagome gave the fuzzy appendage on the right a little stroke, warranting the coarse moan that vibrated into her mouth. The vibration shuttered down her whole body and grabbed hold of the lustful urge inside of her, furthering her exploration of his sensitive ears. Pushing deeper into the kiss, using the opportunity his moans presented and sliding her tongue into his parted mouth. The king responded positively, nibbling slightly on her lower lip, cupping her head with one hand and lacing his fingers through her braided hair. Kagome pushed back, parting for a moment to breathe, the red flash in Inuyasha's golden eyes startled her and she stumbled back a step. Raising a hand to her lips, Kagome stared back at Inuyasha's form, silhouetted by the moonlight. He reached out for her hand.

"Come with me." He asked, other hand gesturing to the door at his side. Was he asking her to come to bed with him? The butterflies in her stomach whispered yes, but her head shook in gental protest. Kagome shifted back on a foot and then the other.

"Please." Inuyasha asked, offering his hand again, taking a step closer to her. There was a gravity in his eyes, pulling Kagome to readjust her standing and take a step towards him. Was this it, the moment she gave into his alluring gravitational force? Almost instinctively her hand reached out to grasp his, lacing their fingers. Inuyasha pulled her fragile form back into his, smothering her with a kiss.