Chapter 4

Being Taken In

(A/N: Warning Lemon)

Bangs, with longer hair loose at the sides, ponytail high…that's how she always wore her hair. As a pup, and now as a great and formidable yokai, this was it. Should she change it for now…it was a special occasion after all? Something more elaborate? Should she change it to please him? She let the thought slip from her mind as she secured her only ornament in her hair. It was the source of her greatest feelings of security, her naginata, not a powerful weapon on its own, only enchanted to slide from its sheath in her hair; to go from minuscule fascination to gigantic and lumbering. It didn't need to be special or named. It was special in her expert hands. No master had forged it with pools of yoki streaming through the blade. It was heavy and big in its true form, standing much taller than herself, even with her impressive height.

She could look her betrothed in the eyes. She was proud of that. She'd never have to gaze up at him mystified like a wounded deer as it was deemed normal for all females to do. He was her prize. She had won him. That's how she saw it. All of her bowing and scraping. All of the pointless battles and near scrapes with death. She had proved her loyalty and in return, she was given a place of outrageous influence.

It did not matter to her the minutia. It shouldn't. She did not like him, she did not know him, nor did any of that matter. It especially didn't matter whether or not he was pleased with anything about her. They would do their duty. Produce heirs to the lands she and Inu no Taisho's other allies had shed blood to acquire for him. It would all belong to her child one day…in that thought she was giddy and slowed her diaphragm. Such eagerness was unbecoming in someone of her newly acquired importance.

She heard his footsteps, smelt him making his way towards her. Such a sweet smell. He was handsome, and she lucky. Who knew is he was good company. It didn't matter. There was always his father for mental stimulation. When a mate is chosen for one, such arbitrary things as attractiveness are usually left aside. She had reached the final plateau, there would be no more hardship…only reward.

She knelt and slid the door open, not looking up, only feeling the subtle movement of air being displaced as he entered her chambers. Closing it back again, she removed herself from her place at the door and went further inward, knees touching her bed. She kept her head down. She could not look up until she managed to steady her heartbeat.

"I will not breed you"

Shinokiri could hear a shattering sound between her ears.

"My lord?"

"Offspring are competition. I cannot afford that until I have surpassed my father"

She could feel a sharp pain and a metallic warmth in her mouth; noting that in rage she had bitten off part of the flesh inside of her cheeks. She repositioned her teeth to clench against each other, but the force threatened to break them.

"I was promised this as my reward. Will you deny me that Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Yes. It is my will"

"Is it that my appearance displeases you?"

"I have already explained"

"Do you question your father's judgement? Do you disrespect him by denying him….by disobeying him?"

"I will not repeat myself"

Shinokiri's chest tightened.

"So, then what am I to do in this liminal period, my lord? While I wait for you to try and out piss your father…"

Her head shot up to meet his gaze, she was blazing and livid, and there was no satisfaction in the return of his cold stare.

"I will keep you."

"For?"

"I do not wish to have further arrangements thrown at me. I will keep you, mate you, but you will not become with child"

Her neck crooked with incredulity.

"How?"

"We cannot mate in our true forms"

If he still mated with her, she'd at least have some security in her position. The deal would be cemented. She'd just have to wait…better to have him on her side. No subterfuge. Soon enough, she hoped, he would come to his senses. At some point, he'd have to be rational….reasonable. Inu no Taisho would have to die for him to even get close to his greatness, not even to surpass him.

Perhaps he intends a coup.

She felt uneasy at the thought of getting caught up in something so foolish, but there was no way he was that stupid.

"Fine, if that is your intention…once we mate by your honor it must be by offspring that take their roles as your heirs. If this is some ploy to breed another female…one you prefer…it cannot work. You have been promised to me."

Sesshomaru scoffed at the idea.

"Carnal desire is a weakness. This Sesshomauru will one day overcome it until then I will use mating as a tool to get what I want if I must"

He would only mate with me out of duty then…good. May it be few and far between, but…

"Why bother to bed me at all?"

Shinokiri swelled with anticipation. She was surprised she let the question tumble out of her mouth in such a clunky fashion.

"Inu no Taisho will know my meaning. He will know I made a mockery of his orders."

Sesshomaru sat beside her and brushed her loose hair aside, exposing her neck to stroke it.

"You said overcome…my lord still has this weakness? Of carnal desire?"

Shinokiri's body shuddered at his touch, at her own impertinence as well.

"This Sesshomaru will allow you as his only outlet. You are convenient, but when I have accomplished my goals, you will no longer be needed and I will be rid of you…"

"Are you saying I please you then…physically?"

"You are satisfactory"

It was a start. If he bed her enough then eventually he would become lax and impregnate her. It was a waiting game. She could do that—perhaps. She really didn't know. She was pure…a testament to her power really. It was not for lack of trying in suitors…but she had waited and fought to deserve what she had now and she would continue to see that it followed through.

Sesshomaru's hands moved up to the top of her ponytail where she gently took his hand in hers to stop him.

"Only I can remove it, my lord"

She said this in reference to the trinket atop her head. It was true, a part of the charm of the thing, though it had no real power to speak of. She placed it beside her, all the while feeling the slightness of his breath against her neck. Not in an overbearing way as to repulse her, but she was too overwhelmed, too daunted by the prospect of the unknown. What she had to do now.

He began to remove her obi. She wasn't quite sure what to do.

Just stay still. He will tell you what he wants.

She had it like a mantra in her head until it only became a rhythmic beat rather than the instructions of an inner voice.

She turned to him, and she could feel it. There was that look, the wounded deer look. She knew she had it, and she hated herself for it. Even worse, in return his eyes. Those amber eyes were dead, he was no longer there by going through the ritualistic motions dictated by his body's must base functions…his lust.

He had slowly, very deliberately pushed most of the fabric away. Exposing her to him. He guided her down onto the bed with a gentle push of his hand.

Her kimono, made special for her for this very moment, was ultimately valueless. It only covered her arms now, open, only acting as an expensive lining between her and the bed now.

His eyes drank her in. He had lied. She was more than satisfactory, but he thought it best to keep to himself how much so. He found how weak he was in this moment repugnant, and so he took his time, to establish some control in the matter. She'd be the only one, he could not expose himself thus to several people, he didn't see the attraction to such behavior. He would prove himself superior to Inu no Taisho in this as precedent, before moving on to surpass him in everything else. He would not spread himself thin in the acquisition of females.

Sesshomaru had been caressing and exploring Shinokiri's figure quite slowly. Agonizingly. She wanted this episode done with. She felt like an object, being petted with not consideration to her being cognizant of anything. It would not have mattered if she was conscious or not.

It is my duty. Shinokiri burnt this into her memory as she stared at the ceiling. She needed to avoid the awkwardness of seeing him leer at her, touch her, yet do nothing else. Even more pressing, was the need to not respond to his touch, not feel pleasure from it. It certainly was strange, to be unsettled in such contradictory ways. She'd never admit that there was an excitement in his attentions towards her. Like a precious object but still an object.

He kissed her neck. Took each of her breasts in his mouth. Yet, he had ignored her face entirely. He just moved downwards. Torturing her with waiting. Torturing her with pleasure. Her stomach; her thighs. It was then she was possessed and escaping from her rattled out a moan.

Sesshomaru smirked at this. He felt that noise gave him more power in the situation. He did not feel helpless now. If he had gone further, he felt that she would have the upper hand, it was his pleasure that mattered to him, not hers. Besides, he could smell that she was ready now…see it, but would not let this be known out loud, in fear that it may halt things.

To Shinokiri's relief and chagrin, he stopped his course. To some other, maybe even great relief he took her mouth in his. Ravenously he kissed her. She, in animalistic mechanics, returned it fervently, wriggling against him, their hands cupping each other's faces tenderly. Shinokiri felt lost and now could see what he meant by weakness. This was a weakness. She could not make a habit of it. He propped himself up on his arms and positioned himself between her legs. She put up no resistance and whimpered at the prospect. She knew what was about to happen, the assurance of her future.

From his throat came a low guttural growl that shook her core. He thrust. Such force. Shinokiri felt a sharp pain and cried out…

Shinokiri awoke, her bangs stuck to her face with sweat. She was dewy and rattled. It had been ages since she recounted that memory. Mainly it was self-preservation, having been alone for so long. However, just seeing him again, a yearning grew in her. She did not like it…she did not like…the wet towel on her face.

Shinokiri flew into a small rage, getting up and growling, fangs bared, eyes red and darting.

"KAEDE-BABA!"

Rin leapt back in fright and the old priestess came running in. Shinokiri settled down and felt the heat leaving her neck.

"What's wrong?" The old priestess cradled the girl in her arms, using her body as a shield.

"I'm sorry Rin, you startled me."

Shino kiri turned the other way, sinking into the mattress as a sign of submission. Returning to her side, Rin brave reached out to stroke her forehead.

"You were asleep for days and then you began to writhe and thrash about. I thought you had a fever."

"Hn"

"You seem occupied with a great many number of things, Shinokiri-hime" Kaede was purposefully vague as she narrowed her eyes at the demon. "Sesshomaru-sama came into to look at you not too long ago and that seemed to be the thing to disturb your rest."

"Ah. Where is Inuyasha?"

Rin hopped up at this. "He's with Kagome-sama and master Miroku! They're slaying demons for people outside the village. It's what they do, but they'll be back, don't worry."

Shinokiri nodded at this. Very little progress had been made with her legs. They were still bound by static and numbness. She could only shift them sporadically. Seeing her look at them Kaede offered, "I have been trying to move them as often as I can….while you were sleeping I would bend your knees, hopefully, some change will happen soon. Nothing is wrong with them besides that."

"Thank you, Priestess," Shinokiri said with a sigh before punctuating it with a frustrated huff. Contracting her face in consternation.

"Oh Shinokiri-sama! I have done what you asked. I have found a master of the koto to teach me …and look!"

Rin pulled out a smaller, simpler koto.

"Lord Sesshomaru got me one to practice on, so I don't kill anyone like you were saying!"

Rin beamed at Shinokiri with pride. She seemed intent on impressing and pleasing the demoness.

"Very good Rin. I pray you will make great strides."

Rin accepted this response and with a somewhat more reserved pleasantness she responded, "Shinokiri-hime, I don't know you very well, but you seem like a great lady…a nice lady…I am happy."

Shinokiri tilted her head at the child. What is her meaning…

"I had always wondered why Sesshomaru-sama would stay by himself so much. Wasn't he lonely? And there were ladies…pretty ladies that came along…. but he stayed alone. I felt sad for him, but I get it now. He was waiting for you…He—"

Kaede put a hand on the girl's shoulder, urging her to stop. "Do not bother Shinokiri-hime, Rin. She should still be resting."

Shinokiri bit Rin to continue, however.

"Ladies?"

It struck something in her. It should've occurred to her, that even with all of his proclamations of overcoming weakness and compartmentalizing…all of that foolishness. He was still a male, and in her absence he would find relief elsewhere. No matter what he would say, he would still need the warmth of a female's touch. As she had suffered without a male's. The difference only being that she was trapped, isolated from the world…and he was not.

There was no uniqueness in what was between the two of them that could not be replicated with a substitution of another in either role. That is how she rationalized it. So, of course, he had his needs met.

"Kagura-sama…Sara-hime…he seemed to like them I think," Rin offered.

A displacement happened within Shinokiri…Like?

"He never took them on though. They never stayed with us or anything…he didn't hate them, he just never let them get near. He'd say no. I never understood why, but he never told me he had you. So I guess it makes sense."

Rin flashed a smile as she shrugged. She thought this was encouraging. Shinokiri was even more discombobulated than previously. Maybe, he had overcome his desires...rejecting women throwing themselves at him...at least that was the impression she got. So then, what now? He had finally rid himself of that ailment, of his lust. What was her place now?