Incomplete
- Chapter Forty-One -
"Well, this is it!"
Suddenly feeling a bit unsure as to the wisdom of this idea, Kagome pushed open the door to her bedroom and motioned for Sesshomaru to enter.
She sat down on her bed and nervously bit her lip while he took the grand tour of her small, girlish bedroom. She'd never felt self-conscious of her room before, but with someone regal like Sesshomaru standing in its midst the stuffed animals, out-dated boy band posters on the walls, and the over use of the colour pink suddenly made it take on a very childish appearance. It wasn't exactly the impression she'd hoped to make.
Frowning at her faded Tohoshinki poster, she watched him peruse the assortment of books stacked high atop her shelf. Most were school textbooks – history, geometry, science. He tilted his head a little to read the various titles and she wondered what he'd think of her history books. Their opinions on how the politics of the feudal era had developed would probably hold a great deal of interest for someone like him.
He thumbed through a small pile of old assignments she'd left atop her desk, pushing the first few aside to read the titles. Noticing the large red F glaring at her from the top of the stack Kagome groaned inwardly and sincerely hoped that somewhere in the feudal era an F meant "Fantastic!" and not "Failure." She wasn't exactly looking forward to Sesshomaru discovering that his mate was a junior high school flunkie.
He found his way next to a small shelf with her trophies sitting atop it. There wasn't much to brag about – a couple of race ribbons from her early days at junior high school, a medal for placing second in an English speech competition, and one small team trophy her class had won during a volleyball match.
"No archery?" he asked, turning to her with a lifted brow.
She shrugged and suffered an embarrassed look. "I never thought to take it up before falling through the well."
He considered this with a nod of his head and moved on to her row of stuffed teddy bears, fronted by an old family photo. He picked it up to inspect it closer. She knew the photo by heart. It was of herself, Mom, Sota and Gramps underneath the Goshinboku. They'd taken it on her first day of junior high school, when the cherry blossoms were still raining down.
That morning had been only a few short months before her first journey down the well. She kept the picture close by for memory's sake, but didn't recognize the girl in it any longer. She was a different person now, a stronger person, and it was for the best.
Sesshomaru set the picture down and turned to face her.
"Is it what you expected?" she wondered.
His eyes wandered once more around her room before he shook his head. "It is not as I had imagined."
"Is that good or bad?"
He dismissed the question with a non-committal shrug and helped her up off the bed.
"It matters not. This world and this place are part of who you are and I wish to know such things."
Kagome breathed a sigh and smiled feebly.
"Well, alright. But try to remember that I haven't been here much in the past three years so there hasn't exactly been time to re-decorate."
He smiled indulgently and pulled her close. She greedily breathed in the scent of him and ran her hands down the black kimono jacket he continued to wear.
"This colour looks good on you," she mused, tilting her face up to his. "You should wear it more often."
"I find these garments restricting. I prefer my own," he rebutted, lowering his lips to brush over hers.
"Perhaps we can do something about that?" Kagome teased coyly.
Her fingers slipped into the folds of his jacket and swiftly untangled the knots holding it closed. The garment met the floor the moment his lips met hers. His claws were quick to comb through her hair, and her fingers dug into the soft material of his yukata.
This was the first time they'd had the chance to be alone, away from prying eyes, since before the attack at the palace. They'd spent countless moments during their separation wanting exactly this, yearning to be this close again, and now it was finally within their reach.
"I've missed this," she murmured against his lips, gasping as his tongue found the one spot on her neck that made her legs turn to jelly.
"I've missed you," he replied, hitching her leg around his waist.
They fell back against the bed, too preoccupied to notice or care about the soft pink sheets billowing up around them. He opened the buttons of her sweater one at a time, taking care to ravish the newly revealed skin with the appropriate amount of attention. He found one of her hardened nipples and slipped it into his mouth to give it a gentle nibble. Pleasure arced straight down her spine until she was arching her back and digging her fingers into his hair to pull him closer.
She needed to be closer. Every part of her was calling out to him, demanding to be re-united and the best she could do was writhe and squirm while he dished out his own devilish sort of torture.
"Don't make me wait," she pleaded, lifting her hips to meet his. His body was hard and ready and he pushed back, grinding against her sensitive core.
"Patience," he murmured against the side of her neck and then slipped his mouth over hers.
His tongue pushed past her parted lips and greedily explored inside. Not content to be left out, her hands slipped beneath the folds of his yukata and became reacquainted with the hard plains of his chest and back. His skin was fire hot and soft beneath her fingers and she eagerly pulled at the material, desperate to reveal more.
Above her, Sesshomaru suddenly stopped and rested his hand overtop her mouth. She lifted her brow in surprise until she heard her mother's voice from the bottom of the stairs.
"Kagome! Please come down for dinner. We've prepared something special for your guest."
Shock made her eyes widen but she quickly came to her senses and pushed his hand away.
"Be right there, Mom!"
Both remained absolutely still for the space of a few heartbeats until they were sure she'd returned to the kitchen. Letting out a sigh of relief, Kagome grinned up at her mate.
"Looks like this will have to wait," she said with a resigned pout.
Sesshomaru didn't seem so ready to give in. His hips rocked against hers in a gentle but persistent rhythm, making his intentions very clear.
"We should really…" she protested half-heartedly before being silenced by his lips. He made his way down her body leaving a scorching trail behind. His lips met every bit of skin he saw from her neck to her thighs. In the space of a few seconds he had her writhing and gasping again, desperate for release.
He settled between her thighs and his mouth continued to explore while his hand pushed her skirt up around her waist. It wasn't until he moved her underwear aside that she abruptly realized what he intended to do. Her head snapped up off the pillow and she caught his knowing smirk.
"We can't," she hissed, horrified at the thought of her mother or brother walking in.
He gave her plea exactly one second of consideration before his tongue delved into her sweet centre and she was left at a complete loss for words. Though she had no other to compare him to, Kagome had thought on many occasions that Sesshomaru's talents with his tongue were beyond natural. In fact, she was rather certain they were divine in origin. It was the only explanation she had for his complete ability to have her flying sky high in a matter of seconds.
Her fingers clutched at the sheets while her hips bucked to meet his mouth. He grabbed her and held her down while his tongue delivered its own brand of torture, licking and sucking until she saw stars before her eyes and cried out his name.
He let her come down slowly, relishing in the taste of her while her body's jerks and trembles faded. Feeling as though every bone in her body had been removed, she lifted her head to look down at the beautiful demon with his head still between her legs. Wearing a self-satisfied grin, he rested his chin atop his arm and lifted a brow at her mussed hair and swollen lips.
"Shall we head to dinner?"
Uttering a quiet groan of defeat, she fell back against the pillow and wondered if it was possible to die from embarrassment.
oOo
Dinner was a sufficiently awkward affair that couldn't have been over soon enough for Kagome. Despite doing her best to comb her hair and arrange her clothes, she couldn't keep the guilt from burning her cheeks. It felt like her entire family was looking at her with eyes that said "We know what you just did." It was a rather unsettling feeling, particularly when her mother asked if she'd like a muffin for dessert and she heard something wildly inappropriate instead.
In stark contrast to her blushing, stuttering mess of a self, Sesshomaru looked rather calm and collected and more than a little amused by her behaviour. He declined her mother's offering of steamed vegetables and rice with good grace before politely cutting into his nearly raw steak. He didn't eat human food in practice, but he was willing to make an exception so as not to offend her family. Small gestures like that were one of the many reasons she loved him.
Her brother stared up at the Lord of the West the way he looked at the latest Gundam model on display at the hobby shop, with stars in his eyes and a silly grin splitting his mouth wide. Sota had made a complete about face in his attitude towards Sesshomaru. Her mother had told her about the rocky start to their relationship, but all of that seemed long forgotten judging by the myriad of questions he tossed Sesshomaru's way.
Gramps was another story entirely. Despite having been revived by the Tenseiga, he was as cranky as ever and didn't appreciate the idea of sharing his dinner table with a demon. Her mother had politely reminded him that Inuyasha had been a half demon and he'd never complained about his presence before. According to Gramps, there was all the difference in the world between the two.
After several thwarted purification attempts and a few sit down chats to try and make him see reason, they'd given up. People his age could be very resistant to change and they wrote off his incessant scowl as him simply being old and unreasonable. If Sesshomaru was bothered by the unwavering glares the old man sent his way, not a hint of it showed on his face.
Mercifully, dinner didn't last longer than an hour and Kagome took the first opportunity to jump up and announce that they were leaving. Sesshomaru politely thanked her mother for the meal, to which she blushed and shied away from his compliment with a wave of her hand.
"Thank goodness that's over with," Kagome moaned as he followed her out into the yard.
Sesshomaru seemed amused by this and came to a stop beside her, "I believe it went well."
"You would," she teased, playfully slapping his arm. She still hadn't forgiven him for his earlier torture, but was willing to forget it for now. She'd have time enough later to pay him back.
"Is there anything you want to see while you're here?" she wondered suddenly as they made their way down the temple stairs.
"I know you've already seen the hospital, but is there anything else? We could take the subway into the city centre, or maybe ride in an elevator? Tokyo Tower would have a really nice view right now with the sun ready to set…"
He considered her suggestions for a long while before ultimately shaking his head.
"Since you first told me of this world, I have often wondered about such things. I am curious, I will not deny it, but perhaps it is best if I do not know them. No harm can come from my continued ignorance while much can come from what I learn."
Kagome opened her mouth to object, but quickly closed it again. Sesshomaru didn't make decisions hastily. He'd obviously thought this out in detail. Someone from the past knowing with absolute certainty what was to come in the future posed some potentially serious problems. Even so, she had to commend him for his impressive self control. Were their roles reversed, she couldn't honestly say she'd be able to deny her own curiosity.
"There is one place I'd like to take you," she said finally, hoping he would indulge her just this once.
"Of course," he agreed as the back of his fingers skimmed her cheek.
Feeling both excited and a little nervous, she led him to the train station. Most of the commuter traffic had come and gone so the platform was relatively empty. Sesshomaru waited by the ticket gate, watching attentively as people swiped their cards or inserted their paper tickets to gain access.
Kagome bought two tickets to a station a few stops down the line and offered him one. He accepted it reluctantly and glared at an express train barrelling through station.
"I would prefer my own methods of transportation," he announced. "They are far safer."
Kagome ignored his stubborn objections and led him to the ticket gate.
"True, but I think a demon and a girl flying over the city would attract too much attention. It's probably best to be discrete. Trains are very safe, I promise. Besides, we're only going two stops."
Sesshomaru relented in the wake of her logic, agreeing that for the duration of his stay it would be best if he drew as little attention to himself as possible. His appearance alone garnered stares and head turns from every direction, but he didn't need to make her life unnecessarily difficult by compounding the problem.
Kagome passed through the gate and waited on the other side for him to follow. He glanced dismissively at the paper ticket in his hand and then inserted into the machine. He waited patiently for the yellow gates to snap open before walking through and retrieving his ticket from the other side.
"You learn fast!" she teased, grinning up at him. He uttered a 'Hn' and inspected the platform, taking note of the people on either side.
"The train should be arriving any minute," she promised with a glance at the signboard overhead.
"When it stops at the station, the doors will open and we'll go inside. It's sort of like a large kago, but one that carries many people."
A woman's voice suddenly crackled over the loudspeaker to announce the train was approaching. Sesshomaru placed himself between her and the tracks and kept his hand resting atop the hilt of his Tokijin.
Kagome stifled a giggle and gently took hold of his arm. He glanced down at her with a tense look but relaxed when he saw her smile.
"It's safe, I promise," she said with a nod at the approaching train. It coasted into the station and came to a stop. The doors opened with a hiss and she pulled him through onto the car. He took a moment to glance around at the other riders quietly sitting in their seats. Seeing an empty spot available, he led her to it and invited her to sit.
"What about you?" she asked, baffled by his behaviour.
"I prefer to stand," he explained, taking up a post next to the door.
The train suddenly jerked forward and then was moving down the track towards the next station. Sesshomaru kept his eyes on the world flying by outside the window and Kagome wondered what he was thinking. She couldn't even imagine what this must be like for him. Her introduction to the feudal era had been a bit of a crash course, but then she'd heard about all of that stuff before from her History classes. For Sesshomaru this was all entirely new. Everything from the ticket gate, to the train, to the electricity that gave it motion were foreign concepts to him. Given the situation he was in, he seemed to be handling it remarkably well.
Their two stops went by quickly and he looked down at her surprised when she suddenly stood next to him at the door.
"Already?" he asked, sounding a little disappointed.
"Yup, we're here!"
The train came to an easy stop and they exited the same as they'd boarded, only a little smoother now that he knew the routine. It was the same at the ticket gate and she smiled with pride at the easy way he walked through.
Wrapping her hands around his arm, she led him away from the station down a narrow residential street. He seemed particularly interested in the construction of the houses they passed, often looking over his shoulder to examine some new architectural detail. An old woman passed them on a bicycle and gave each of them a friendly nod.
"Where are we headed?"
Kagome gestured to the small collection of tombstones to their left. They rose up suddenly out of the ground between a kindergarten and a local police station, looking like a miniature concrete garden. Bouquets of bright purple and yellow flowers rested atop most of the stones, along with incense and small bottles of sake.
Kagome led him down the narrow paths between the rows of graves until she came to a stop in front of one stone in particular. Sesshomaru read the kanji of the family name and recognized it as hers.
"Who is buried here?" he asked, instinctively pulling her in close.
She smiled sadly and answered, "My father. I wanted you two to meet before we went back for good."
"I am honoured," he answered sincerely.
He released her so she could go about tidying the grave site and say a quick prayer. He'd never been one for prayer since he had no faith in human gods, but he was content to let her do as she pleased while he paid his own silent respects.
When his own father had died, he hadn't taken any time to mourn his passing. He'd been too angry then and hell bent on revenge. It wasn't until many decades later that he began to remember the man who'd raised him in a different light. There were times when he wished he'd known him better, and others when he realized that he had never really known him at all.
"Thanks for coming with me. It means a lot," Kagome said, stepping back from her father's tomb.
He pulled her against him and carefully studied her features in the fading daylight. Her lashes were still wet with the tears she'd shed and he felt a sudden rush of guilt.
"Are you certain you still wish to leave this place?"
It wasn't the first time he'd asked her since she told him of her decision. She'd been very certain with her words, but he'd expressed his doubts almost instantly. He was worried about her, worried that she would miss her family too much or regret her decision down the road. He never wanted her to be unhappy, especially if it was within his power to prevent it.
"I'm certain," she promised, taking his hand in hers. "I just need some time to say goodbye properly. Is that okay?"
His eyes shifted from her gaze to the grave standing next to them. He studied it a long while before nodding in agreement.
"At the hospital I swore an oath that I would never leave you again. I intend to keep it. Take as long as you need. I will wait."
Her smile was radiant before she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest.
"I love you," she breathed, tilting her face up to his. He looked down at her fondly and indulgently combed his claws through her hair.
"And I, you."
Author's Note: A newly minted chapter for your reading enjoyment :) Added 09/12/11