Day Two - Instinct
Prompt: Fleeting, whisper, touch, cherry blossoms
Setting: Modern AU
744 words
The scent of cherry blossoms teased Sesshoumaru's nose.
It caught his attention and pulled his thoughts out of the work e-mail he'd been trying to compose in his head. His chopsticks had stopped mid-air – although even that he noticed only vaguely.
That delicious scent was taking over all of his awareness.
Instinctively, he turned towards it, a soft growl rumbling in his throat like a purr.
And from somewhere deep within came a whisper; dark and ancient and demanding.
Mine.
Had Sesshoumaru been thinking, been able to apply his usual cool logic at that moment, he would've been alarmed if not appalled. He'd never had such a reaction to a scent before and the implications of the strength of his response would have sent his mind reeling.
But at the clutches of that delicate perfume of cherry blossoms, Sesshoumaru was beyond thinking; operating instead on pure instinct.
He didn't register the loud scrape of chair legs against the tiled floor as he pushed up from his seat. Paid no heed to the curious glances the other patrons of the store sent his way.
He only cared about the scent he'd honed in on, and tracking it to its origin.
Sesshoumaru found her standing before the counter, studying the selection.
She was slightly taller than average and had curves in all the right places. She'd caught her plump bottom lip between even white teeth as she frowned in concentration. She was wearing a bright and cheerful sundress and was clasping at the handbag hanging from her slender shoulder. Blue-black hair fell freely down her back, cascading to her waist. Fair creamy skin that Sesshoumaru's fingers itched to touch.
He stopped right behind her, easily towering over her.
For a fleeting moment, some veneer of civilisation slipped in and stopped him from burying his nose in her hair.
Or perhaps that was on instinct too – he did not want to scare her off, which meant he would have to respect her boundaries, no matter how much he wished to mark her with his youki.
The woman was completely oblivious to his presence, still contemplating her choices for lunch. Lost in her thoughts, she took a step back, stumbling as she collided into him.
Sesshoumaru's hands clamped down on her arms to steady her, revelling at the feel of her smooth skin beneath his fingers.
He never wanted to let go.
The woman turned to look over her shoulder at him, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry," she squeaked.
"Don't worry about it," Sesshoumaru reassured her, even gifting her one of his rare smiles.
Inside, his instincts were clawing at him; that whisper from earlier had swelled into a howl.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
"Are you all right?" he asked, as he forced himself to let go of her.
"Yup, fine, thanks," she replied, still obviously flustered since the words had tumbled out of her mouth so quickly they almost tripped over one another.
"I'm glad," Sesshoumaru murmured and took a careful step back.
He felt like grinning when the woman stole one last glance at him before turning back towards the counter.
As she made and paid for her order, Sesshoumaru's mind was feverishly working on a way he could use to persuade her to come to share his table.
He stepped past her and pulled out a few more serviettes from the dispenser, pretending that was why he'd come over to the counter.
They turned around at the same time.
Shared a side glance and a quick smile.
Sesshoumaru could've spent forever just staring into those blue eyes.
All out of clever plans, he decided to take a leap and just be honest.
"There's room at my table," he told the young woman. "If you'd like company."
She was blushing again. She bit down on her lip and Sesshoumaru's gaze keenly tracked the movement.
"I don't want to intrude," she said at last.
"You wouldn't be," Sesshoumaru said. "I'd be delighted to have your company."
Was that too much? He had a sinking feeling he'd made a fool out of himself.
But then, hesitant, the woman nodded.
Sesshoumaru grinned, his instincts howling their victory.
He decided then and there that he would do whatever it took to make this woman his.
Even if he had to make a fool out of himself a hundred times over.
He knew, deep in his bones and with all of his soul, that it would be worth it.
