Gaining Experience

Sesshoumaru was attempting to lead his bride through one of the many hallways of Naraku's castle the same way he always tried to lead her. She was expected to envision that steel collar and chain to be under his control as she remained following him without question or comment, but after what Kagome witnessed it was hard to keep quiet. InuYasha had just turned into a completely different creature and attempted to make a dramatic exit out of a stained glass window with a chicken drumstick wrapped in his claws. Was any of this even real? Was it all just a dream? Would she wake up in the morning and be expected to do all of this again?

"What even was that?" Kagome asked out loud only a few steps behind Sesshoumaru.

She wasn't even paying attention to where she was being lead to.

Sesshoumaru stopped and turned to her with his amber eyes showing her concern for InuYasha was irritating him.

"Nothing you need to worry about," his voice was calm before he continued walking, "as long as he has a human heart his strength can never be equal to my own. He lacks the power and the resources, and with a divided mind he'll never get them. He'll never be able to touch you let alone take you from me."

"I shouldn't be concerned," Sesshoumaru thought to himself after delivering the reassuring news, "I can feel his power and know what he is working with but this situation is nothing I could have been prepared for. Never have I seen InuYasha snap and give in to his demonic heart so easily. I didn't even attempt to harm him simply standing before him was all it took. Was it intimidation, or is it the girl? Father only one good thing has come out of me forcing myself to spare that half-breed. It must have been her that his inner youkai responded to. She is indeed no average human. This wasn't all for nothing."

"How can I not worry?" Kagome demanded to know in a voice that the daiyoukai interpreted as open defiance, "is he going to be alright? Shouldn't we look for him?"

Sesshoumaru stopped again as her voice and her words continued to annoy him. He made it known that she'd be safe as long as she was with him, so why wouldn't she let it go? He could tell that InuYasha's transformation freightened the girl despite her being too stubborn to admit it, but Sesshoumaru didn't want her dwelling on it anymore.

Getting through the ceremony and the reception should've been a victory for Sesshoumaru. Kagome was his wife and his property now. No one could take her away from him without expecting a fight, but it seemed he was getting too ahead of himself. The girl wasn't truly his. Not yet, and he'd be a fool to think he could call her his after tonight or even in the next day. His introductory training obviously had no impact if she was throwing cake in his face and speaking out of turn so easily.

Kagome was his wife now and there would no longer be any excuses or leighway given to her. She was going to learn her place and what was best for her, and this decision of Sesshoumaru's had not only been prompted by her antics that day but by the concern she was showing his brother. Another male wanting to claim what was his already had the daiyoukai's blood burning, but thoughts of her wanting to go to InuYasha had him pushed to the edge. After all she didn't become his wife by choice, so what was stopping her from choosing a captor with the face of her former flame over him?

"You'll never come in contact with that half-breed again," Sesshoumaru told her coldly, "so he isn't your concern. Don't even try to go to him. If he lays a hand on you he will die."

Kagome's eyes widened. That escalated quickly. She didn't have a single romantic thought about InuYasha left her in anymore after everything that had happened, but yet Sesshoumaru was acting like she was going to beg him to take her away. He was even going so far as to take InuYasha's life as hostage to insure she didn't go down that route. She was getting a small glimpse of the Sesshoumaru everyone warned her about with the added bonus of how possessive he was.

"I'd almost find it flattering in a creepy demented way," Kagome shook her head, "but it's not me he wants to protect and keep away from other men. It's just my blood."

"Calm down," she told him not knowing how much her carefree response would irritate even further, "you took all your vows about protecting me and taking care of me but I took mine to. Doesn't matter that it was an arranged marriage I pledged my loyalty to you. I didn't pledge it because it was customary either. I didn't choose the marriage but I chose you over my father and family when it came down to it. You know that, and you should know how I feel. I won't abandon you."

He recalled last night's adventure through the castle when they stole from her father and what she said about affairs upon their first informal meeting. It seemed he would just have to take the girl at her word and believe she'd never willingly go to another man.

That didn't really help matters, however, as his inner beast was still stirring and telling him how to properly end this turmoil. The girl needed to be claimed by him and the instinct to do so wouldn't be calmed until she was covered in his scent.

"I've heard you," was all he had to say in response as he continued to try and stop himself from looking at her, "you've said your words and I've said mine. No other man touches you and you will not allow it to happen if it's within your control. If it happens someone dies."

Kagome couldn't tell if he was just dismissing her promises or was acknowledging that rules were being set in place. She could never tell with him, but before she could become infruitated she noticed they were standing outside of her bedroom. Well her former bedroom now that she was Sesshoumaru's wife and would be leaving with him the next day.

"Why are we here?" she asked the innocent question with a bit of hope in her voice that Sesshoumaru was merely escorting her back to her room where she could spend the night alone.

"I require a bed," was his matter-of-fact answer to destroy her hope.

"You-" Kagome had to accept that there wouldn't be any getting out of what they needed to do next, "we- you were given a room when you got here. Have you still not slept? Do you not know where it is?"

In truth Sesshoumaru hadn't slept a single wink since arriving in Havensbrooke, and probably much to Kagome's dissatisfaction he wasn't at all tired.

"That bed is occupied," was all he had to say on the matter waiting for her to open the door.

Occupied by who? Kagome then remembered what had been discussed between Kagura and Sesshoumaru before InuYasha interrupted. Was his bedroom where Rin was? Why did Sesshoumaru bring Rin to the castle? What trouble had the seemingly innocent flower girl get into and why did a cold creature such as Sesshoumaru help her? Kagome tried asking him before, but for whatever reason Sesshoumaru seemed hellbent on ignoring her after the cake incident.

"Why is Rin here?" Kagome asked standing firmly in the hallway.

Sesshoumaru had been wanting her to open the door since he was a guest in the home, but as it stood they were both guests and whatever the correct action of courtesy was wouldn't get him the bed he required any sooner. He ignored her questions about the flower girl and took the liberty of opening the door hoping Kagome would go in with no prompting.

She not only stayed in the middle of the hallway, but managed to somehow veer off further away from him. Almost as though she was a lamb that needed to be herded he moved behind her to stop her from wandering off anywhere else.

"Whatever concerns you have about that girl can wait until morning," Sesshoumaru spoke letting her know with his gaze that he was tiring of the distractions, "the only creature I am concerned with is you. Go to your bed Kagome. You are mine, and until you are in your new home you will not be out of my sight."

In other words tonight would not be like the other nights. He would not leave her at her door and await her the next day for breakfast. They'd be going to bed together and waking up together. She knew what was suppose to happen when the wedding had concluded, but she still didn't think she was ready. She still didn't really know who Sesshoumaru even was. He was obviously possessive and power obsessed, but at the same time it seemed he found it in his heart to show concern for someone he'd called a meaningless flower girl. Kagome wished she could know more about what was going on, but it seemed she wouldn't be allowed the privilege until she did her wifely duty.

Sesshoumaru didn't appreciate how she was hesitating. He regretted his previous punishment of ignoring her for his action seemed to create some distance between them. He was arrogant enough to believe that he could have gotten the woman from the night before that slept in his lap to easily join him in bed, but this one needed some coaxing.

"I do not enjoy repeating myself Kagome," he said as she still refused to move beyond the threshold.

"I'm just not ready for bed," was the only excuse she could come up with.

"I'm not asking you to sleep. I require a bed for your comfort, but if we must carry on in this hallway than it will suffice."

Kagome knew he wasn't joking around so she lowered her eyes to the ground as she finally walked into her bedroom where Sesshoumaru was immediately behind her. She could hear the sound of him locking the door the moment he got a chance telling her there would be no interruptions and no escape.

She wasn't even being given a second to breathe and think things over as she could hear the rustling of Sesshoumaru removing the top half of his kimono.

"Aren't you still mad at me though?" she asked not turning around, "for the cake and everything else? I'm sorry."

She was still holding the stuffed dog in her arms never having let go of it since she picked it up. She'd even been holding on to it when she met with Goshinki. Thankfully her brother didn't mock her for clinging on to a stuffed animal like all the rest did.

"Hn?" Sesshoumaru threw his silks to the ground, "do you believe I cannot enjoy your body while mad?"

The way he said that almost sounded like a threat, and like a frightened child Kagome clung on to her stuffed dog scared of what would come next.

Sesshoumaru took in her fear and shook his head while raking his claws through the Mokomoko, "Do not be concerned about how I felt when my own wife took it upon herself to embarrass me. You were warned that you'd be punished for what you did and you consented to punishment by doing it anyway. You will apologize by taking your punishment with grace, however, there will be no punishing tonight Kagome. You can be at ease."

So he was mad at her but yet he was putting his anger on hold somehow. That must've been a youkai ability Kagome didn't have because she couldn't see herself being that patient. Was patient even the word to describe Sesshoumaru? Obviously not since he'd brought her here only moments after InuYasha's departure.

Finally Kagome turned to look at her new husband and watched as he ripped the Mokomoko out of his shoulder just had he had done earlier that day. He tossed it to the ground before stepping over it and getting closer to her. He took in her dress and how lovely it looked perfectly formed to her body even glowing in dim torch light. He was sure his eyes were now betraying him and showing his want of her, but why should he have had to hide that? Kagome was allowed to get away with being in charge and defying the rules because it was 'her day' but now it was his night. He would get what he came to this kingdom for.

Unfortunately his inner beast wouldn't get exactly what it wanted this night. Precautions needed to be taken.

"The Mokomoko?" Kagome rose an eyebrow wondering why Sesshoumaru had shed it.

"Magnificent Mokomoko," Sesshoumaru corrected her still leaving it to be a mystery on whether his words were that of a fur boa or if he was becoming playful, "and he remembers what you said earlier. You wish to make him jealous with that toy of yours? You make vows of loyalty to me but not to him? That is fine. I've removed it so you can keep your toy while I have mine to myself. Now then…"

"I-" her cheeks turned red as she was once again herded in her own room to the edge of her bed, "not sure- really Sesshoumaru? Are you a sheep dog or something? Just give me a moment."

"I've given you plenty of moments," his eyes were trained on her taking in every expression before reaching forward and capturing her cheek in his grasp, "are you afraid of me Kagome?"

"Afraid?" she knew Sesshoumaru caught her being terrified in several situations but she didn't like admitting her own fear, "not really I just don't know what to do and you were so mad at me about the cake. You didn't say anything but I know you were mad-

"You're rambling. It's amusing. Everything about you is. Out there in the company of others, where you decided to embarrass me you sharpen your voice when you wish for things to go your way, but here alone with me and when you were alone in with the Mokomoko it gets high pitched and nervous. It's not the same fear as before."

Sesshoumaru didn't know exactly what his point was or what word he needed to describe how she was acting, but he enjoyed it. She could go from being strong to being at his mercy, which was the foundation he wished to build their relationship on. Did she already forget the rules? The way they acted on the outside was one thing, but in private could be an entirely different and enjoyable experience.

"I'm not scared," she pouted trying to fight all temptation to lower herself on the bed, "I just don't know what to do. I got told to just close my eyes and wait for it to be over, but then there was what you did with the Mokomoko and that wasn't bad, but this will be different and I- I'm rambling again."

Sesshoumaru's cold demeanor finally faded away as she managed to get a smile out of him. He did seem to enjoy her nervous rushed excuses and concerns.

"What I did with the Mokomoko?" he asked releasing her face before moving her hair out of her eyes, "you can't say that for sure. I wasn't in control. This, however, is a different matter. A much more intimate matter. You are simply afraid of the unknown as you haven't the experience you believe you need in our marriage bed. Fool. Eighty gold coins, remember?"

"Eighty gold coins?" Kagome asked frowning when his claws were no longer against her skin, "you want your tulip coins now or-

"No," he hardened his gaze, "have you forgotten already? If you could not pay me eighty gold coins I would have taken you on my ship if you shared my bed. Now that you have a better understanding of the value of gold you should know why I picked that number. That's how much I would've spent on your body knowing your inexperienced. That's how much I want it."

There should have been nothing arousing at all about Sesshoumaru giving an estimate of how much she was worth in gold, but yet his voice sounded like silk as he delivered his reasoning. He was telling her that when it came to her fears of sleeping with him for the first time she didn't need to be concerned with displeasing him. He wanted her at face value, and for someone like Kagome who wanted so desperately to be wanted for something other than blood, even if it was her body, was easily taken with him.

"Some say in these sort of matters the anticipation is worse than any pain," his brief smile returned to a scowl as he shook his head, "so unfortunately you'll be left in fears and waiting a little bit longer. I cannot claim you tonight Kagome."

k

What? He made it clear they'd be sharing a bed this night, so was that all they were going to do? Why was he standing there chest exposed and saying all the right things if they weren't going to go any further?

"We just got married?" Kagome murmured not wanting to sound like she was disappointed, "we have to, don't we?"

"Hn? Consummation? That is a human tradition. One I can understand because there is no better way to insure a woman is yours than to be inside of her, but it is not necessary for me. I took your hand in marriage and I said you were mine, so unless someone challenges me for you nothing else should be expected of me. I will have you, sooner than later, but not here in this place. Not the way I want. It's far too intimate and I will lose myself quite easily. Far too messy."

Now Sesshoumaru was the one rambling, but he hoped he got the message across. It didn't matter that he had married Naraku's daughter. The spider had made it clear that no alliances would come out of the marriage, so Sesshoumaru believed himself to still be in an enemy territory. He did not feel comfortable lowering his guard too much while in this place so would not be inside of his bride that night. He wanted her in his bed, her rightful place as his queen. Her bed just wouldn't do.

There was more to it than that, and Kagome picked up on it with his comment about it being too messy. She lowered her gaze from as she was figuring it out.

"Messy like blood right?" Kagome asked him.

She didn't want him to see her face because she was scared. Sesshoumaru told her he would be extracting her blood, but yet he promised to never hurt her. How could he cut into her without causing her pain? Did his method involve them sleeping with each other? Was that why he was going through the effort of marrying her instead of just kidnapping her and locking her in his own version of the dungeon basement?

Sesshoumaru just gave a nod. He knew Kagome was scared, but he couldn't discuss such things out loud in in Naraku's castle. He didn't want the spider knowing how to extract her blood in fear he'd fight to get her back. As long as Sesshoumaru's family knew the secret he had the upper hand and he couldn't lose that.

"That is a matter for another time and place," was all he could do to reassure her as his hand grazed across her neckline before traveling further down, "I will not honor you with my seed tonight my wife but I will get to know you. If it is experience you want I'll provide it."

Sesshoumaru didn't want to think about the oni locked in the basement. It was obvious the creature could read minds, but he didn't know if his had been read and what the limits to it was. It could have been a grave error if Goshinki now knew the method to extract Kagome's magic, but he'd been assured by the girl the oni wasn't loyal to Naraku. However, him stumbling upon the oni's prison was a blessing in disguise. He now knew Kagome also had a want. She wanted to be desired as she was in that moment, and he wasn't going to leave her unsatisfied. He couldn't put his seed in her, but he'd get his scent on her and show her she had value.

"I want to see you Kagome," he growled low watching her tremble in response.

With one hand he retrieved her stuffed animal throwing it on to the bed after a bit of a struggle to get it out of her grasp and with the other he did what he'd been wanting to do ever since he saw her in that wedding dress and took a firm grasp of her left breast.

"Sesshoumaru?" he couldn't tell if she nervous or angry at him but he would not stop.

"Mhmm? I've been calling you a child but you have the breasts of a woman. I won't be kept from them any longer. Will you undress for me Kagome, or shall I do it myself?"

"I-" she wanted his attention but now that it was solely on her she was paralyzed not knowing what the correct response was.

"I'll look after you," he said the very first thing she'd ever heard him say when they first met.

Her breasts were pretty much what held the dress into place. There were loosely tied ribbons on the back, but clearly they didn't matter for once he pulled the fabric under the beautiful mounds her dress slowly began to fall down to her ankles. His obedience training might have failed, but all other aspects of his conquest had turned out well for him. There was no corset in his way, the best parts of her body was exposed to him now but his eyes were preoccupied with her breasts and how quickly her pale pink nipples began to stiffen for him.

"Beautiful," he complimented her taking one in each hand giving a firm squeeze enjoying how soft they were, "it seems I am fortunate that you have such an arrogant father. If you'd been apart of any other family some other youkai would have swooped in and taken you already on beauty alone. Shouldn't you be thanking me Kagome?"

Kagome was having a hard time staying focused on the here and now as she could hear her own heart beating in her ears from every touch. His arrogance, however, brought her back as she crossed her legs not wanting him necessarily to see all of her. He was the one getting a handful of her breasts without permission or warning and she was supposed to thank him?

"A lesser demon could have had you," he continued, "or a meaningless human noble. One like you is meant to be underneath a true daiyoukai. I don't know what to do with you Kagome. I want the lesser creatures to see you by my side to know what they are unworthy of, but at the same time I'd like to lock you away from everyone and everything."

He was doing his best to let her know he wanted much more than her blood. After all he wouldn't be making an attempt to enjoy her in her room if he just wanted to harvest her, but he no longer felt the need to be subtle about his intentions when he took the time to truly see her body. He'd already seen the scars from an earlier examination, but a closer look made his blood boil. The marks were obviously quite old and had traveled from their origin point, but what he hadn't noticed before were matching ones on her backside. She'd not only been cut into, but someone had impaled her. Someone had tried to kill the woman that was destined to be his. Not just someone, obviously Naraku.

"Kagome," he simply said her name as he released her breast and lightly pressed a finger to one of the scars.

"I don't want to talk about him anymore," Kagome closed her eyes both embarrassed by her naked form and the marks upon her body, "he's ruined everything else about me don't let him ruin this to."

She was begging him in desperation, but her words were delicious to him. Confirmation that she was willing and wanting to join him the pleasures he could bestow as well as making the first step towards her new life.

"These scars are not your doing," Sesshoumaru shook his head, "but they displease me. I'm sure I can find a way to heal them so that coward can become nothing more than a memory. Kagome just know I am not him. It won't be like that."

"You won't tell me what it will be like will you?" she grabbed his wrist wanting his attention off the scars, "he won't tell me why he did this. What I did to deserve it. Maybe he let you marry me because I am worthless. That's why he tried to kill me right?"

"We won't speak of him anymore," Sesshoumaru reinforced her own wishes, "you won't even see him again. This is the beginning of your new life Kagome. You'll never worry for your safety ever again."

Kagome almost wanted to thank him for his words, but remembered he was still wanting to be thanked for being her husband in the first place. It was like being stuck between a rock and a hard place as she was grateful to have a protector but admitting she liked it would be enabling his controlling nature.

"Let us begin," he at least rewarded her with another smile as he considered sealing things with a kiss for a brief moment.

He was about to lock lips with her and she seemed to be readying herself for her desire, but he put a stop to it. No, giving her a completely different life than what she was accustomed to was a separate promise from protecting her and being loyal. This was different so he'd let her feel something different.

Kagome blinked in confusion as Sesshoumaru ducked out of her sight falling to his knees. Daiyoukai Sesshoumaru on his knees? Between this and demon InuYasha fleeing with a drumstick this had to be a dream. It wasn't real for he'd made it clear that'd never be a position she'd find her husband in.

"Brace yourself," he warned putting a hand to her thigh that began trembling on contact before pulling her legs away from each other.

He spoke to her as though he was going to attack, and attack he did. Kagome's eyes widened as she let out protests the moment she felt something both wet and warm enter her. At first it was just uncomfortable, but it wasn't long before she eased into it and her heart began to pump loudly for all the right reasons. She'd touched herself down there before when she was younger, but nothing had ever felt like that.

If he was amused by how high pitched her voice became when she nervously rambled he absolutely craved the sound she made when he located her pleasure bud and wrapped his thin lips around it to suckle.

He pulled away for only a brief moment to share his victory in a low growl, "Mine."

(End Chapter)