Disclaimer: Not mine, darn it! Don't own Inuyasha or any of Rumiko Takahashi's characters.
Chapter Seven
Last time:
Maika made a mock horrified face as Reiku released her. "Now that is just unacceptable. Everyone has to go to a fair at least once."
Reiku giggled. "Then it is my job to get him to go. Thank you for telling me."
"No problem, kid," Maika told her. She grinned as she watched the girl skip happily back down the hall. Reizo, honey, you don't stand a chance. I hope you like cotton candy and carnival rides.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reiku was a very clever and determined girl. She waited down by the front desk for Mr. Daiginkeiko to come as she knew he would. Maika chatted with her as she worked on the computer, answered the phone and answered the seemingly idle questions of a little girl. But Reiku had a method to all her queries and very meticulously stored the answers she wanted for later and disregarded the inane ones she threw in every so often. It might make Sesshomaru happy to be with her, but she knew that he needed a different kind of companionship, so it was also her job to make sure this lady would not hurt him on the inside. After all, he trusted her, and Reiku did not want to let him down.
"So what is your favorite color? Mine is purple," Reiku chirped and tilted her head to the side as she waited for the response.
"Hmmm, that is a tough one," Maika told her as she continued to type. "I guess I'd have to say red."
"Why?" Reiku immediately fired back, her mental log ready and waiting.
"I don't know. I guess because it's such a strong color," Maika struggled to explain. "It's kind of symbolic of love, passion, danger, death, and life. Very multifaceted and paradoxical, like a jewel. And I like things that are a bit mysterious and complex."
Reiku smiled. I think she'll be perfect.
"So, do you like cheese on bread or cheese on toast?" Reiku asked.
Fortunately for both, Maika was saved from answering the ridiculous question by the arrival of none other than the unsuspecting youkai lord himself.
"Mr. Daiginkeiko!" Reiku called out with an unequaled enthusiasm, but remained calmly beside the desk waiting for him to approach.
He looked at both the girls, sitting there smiling as though they had just been having a pleasant conversation, and he frowned. Women were very clever, and something about this scene was raising warning flags. However, he could not resist Reiku's smile, so he steeled himself and went over.
"Good morning, Reiku," he addressed the girl, then nodded stiffly at the secretary. "Maika."
"Morning, Mr. Daiginkeiko," she told him with a cool professionalism, though she caught a slight softness in his eyes, and added a half-smile to her words.
"Reiku, what are you doing here so early? Do you not have other matters to attend?" Mr. Daiginkeiko asked gently.
"Oh, yes, and I'll leave soon so you can talk with Miss Maika alone, but I had something very important to tell you," Reiku told him, her face grim and serious.
Mr. Daiginkeiko's eyes narrowed with concern and Maika rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I-um-well," Reiku leaned toward him and whispered as though it were some shameful disease. "I have never been to a carnival."
Mr. Daiginkeiko relaxed visibly, and said, "Is that so? Well, I have never been to one either."
Reiku let out a horrified gasp and clapped her hands to her mouth. Maika covered a giggle with a cough and a loud shuffling through the papers on her desk. "Not you too, Mr. Daiginkeiko! We have to go, then. Please."
Mr. Daiginkeiko arched an eyebrow and looked down at the little girl. "Who has told you of such a thing?"
Reiku replied, "Oh, lots of people. But last night one of the boys was making fun of me because he was telling about some of the games and I didn't understand. So I really need to go, because I don't like to not understand things. And since you have never gone before, you have to go too. I would not want someone to make fun of you too. That can hurt."
Mr. Daiginkeiko's fists clenched. He was obviously displeased by the news that someone would make fun of her. Reiku smiled inwardly. It was working. And she had not lied; she did hear the kids talking about it last night, and one had tried to mock her for not knowing about the games.
"No, I suppose ignorance is never a good thing when it is possible to avoid," he told her. "I will take you to this carnival. I believe there is one coming to town soon. We shall go then."
Reiku clapped and squealed with excitement. "Oh, thank you, Mr. Daiginkeiko. But you must take Maika too!"
At that Maika and Sesshomaru started. "What?" both asked at the same time.
"Maika must come with us. If neither one of us has been, we need someone who knows to show us around." Reiku leaned forward again and whispered very loudly in his ear. "Besides, it is very rude to talk about something like this in front of someone and then not invite them to come along. And what if I need to use the bathroom while we are there? Maika will be able to take me."
Sesshomaru reddened at this and stepped back a bit. "Can you not, um, take yourself?"
Reiku shook her head. "I am afraid of public restrooms. Men...people..."
"No, you need not explain," Sesshomaru cut in quickly. Reiku offered him a grateful smile.
He turned to Maika, and said, "Well, is this acceptable to you?"
She looked up at him, wide-eyed. "Um, yeah, if she doesn't want to talk..."
"No, do you wish to accompany us to the fair?" Sesshomaru clarified. He stared for a moment at Maika, before shaking himself lightly and adding, "As a guide."
Maika smirked at that. "Well, since you put it so nicely. I guess I can be your guide. But are you two willing to listen to my suggestions and do what I tell you to have a good time for the day?"
Sesshomaru frowned and narrowed his eyes at her. Reiku smiled and said, "Of course! We will!"
Sesshomaru nodded briefly, then quietly dismissed Reiku. The little girl smiled and skipped off to her duties. Her mission was accomplished.
Turning back to Maika, Sesshomaru said, "Well, I must be getting to the office now, but we will discuss this further. I shall return for you when your shift is over to speak with you."
Without waiting for her response, he turned and exited. Maika smiled after him, a soft blush on her cheeks. She had not expected her plan to be this successful. At least the carnival was about a week away, which gave her time to plan all the wonderful things she would have Mr. Daiginkeiko do while at her mercy.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So, is this carnival safe?" Sesshomaru asked Maika as he sank into a seat at the coffee shop later that evening.
Maika slid into the seat across from him and took a sip of her tea before answering. "Yes, of course. I mean, as safe as you can be anywhere I suppose. The rides are inspected regularly, though the food I might avoid...other than some cotton candy."
Sesshomaru frowned. As though he would eat at some strange human attraction. However Reiku would want to. "Is this food dangerous?"
Maika laughed softly, and Sesshomaru felt his temperature rise at the sound. He could still remember her lips against his cheek and could not shake the desire to taste them himself. He had resigned himself to lusting after the mortal, but was there more to it than that?
"No, not dangerous per say. I'm sure it's okay to eat, if you like that sort of food, but it is not really all that good and extremely overpriced," Maika told him. "I always prefer to eat before going. There are plenty of good restaurants in the area. I know one in that neighborhood that makes the best meals ever, exactly how you order them. You can even get a plate of raw meat and vegetables if you wanted to. It's called..."
"Okamoto's, yes, I am familiar with it. I happen to be a rather frequent customer, though I usually have it delivered," Sesshomaru replied. Yes, one could order a pile of raw meat on rice and not have the server bat an eye. The owner was a youkai, who felt such a menu would cater to their own kind.
"I love that place. Most places just laugh when I try to order a rare steak with peas and chocolate sauce," Maika told him.
Sesshomaru chuckled softly and he looked at her. Maika flushed and swatted his arm playfully. "Don't you laugh too. I think everyone has their weird little quirks."
Sesshomaru stopped chuckling, but continued to smile at her. "I am not mocking, I simply find it amusing that you would choose chocolate. I was simply going to suggest trying caramel next time."
Maika laughed at that. "Caramel?" She made a face and added, "I will take your challenge so long as you try chocolate on yours next time. Deal?"
She extended a hand, her fingers long, slender and pale. Sesshomaru reached out and took it in his larger one. "I accept these terms. Let us arrange to do this at Okamoto's as our meal before the carnival."
"Sounds good to me."
Her fingers curled slightly, returning the pressure, and they shook on it. However neither pulled away afterwards. Sesshomaru began to stroke her hand absently with his thumb and Maika said, "You know, I've never met anyone that likes to order as strangely as myself."
"I am not surprised. Such people are rare and quite special," Sesshomaru told her.
Maika smiled brightly and asked, "Now are you talking about yourself or me?"
Sesshomaru flashed her a quick smile and said, "Both."
Maika blushed and took a sip of her tea. "Careful, Mr. Daiginkeiko, that almost sounded like a genuine compliment."
"Then I am afraid I must make myself more clear," he told her, and she stiffened slightly, trying to pull free of his grasp, but he didn't release her. "I meant it to be a very obvious compliment."
She glanced up at him sharply, and Sesshomaru looked at her in earnest. What did he feel for this woman? Never had he laughed so freely, other than with Rin and Reiku, yet try as he might to stop himself, Maika made him smile. The more time he spent with her, it seemed the more he wanted to be with her. And not necessarily in bed either, as would be the case with mere lust.
He knew of one place he always took the most persistent women, and they never stayed around after. It served as a test for him, and a convenient way to be rid of annoying attention. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure he wanted to be rid of Maika's attentions should she fail.
Standing suddenly, he lifted her by his hold on her hand and said, "Come, there is somewhere I would like to show you."
"Um, okay," she told him as she snatched her purse up from the table and allowed herself to be led out.
Sesshomaru could tell she was confused as he led her down the crowded sidewalk, making use of his considerably larger area of personal space to pull her up alongside himself. He did not object at all to her pressing herself against him as she sought to avoid oncoming pedestrians. To her credit, however, she maintained her cool and moved lightly alongside him, taking in the sights with a blissful smile. He wouldn't have been surprised if she wandered the city on her own, just going wherever her feet led her, just to enjoy the pure freedom of it.
He was convinced of it when he suddenly found himself being dragged into a small shop, which turned out to be a music store that sold the old vinyl records and cassettes. Maika laughed and started browsing, her fingers still entwined with his.
"I've never seen this store before," she told him as she flipped through faded album covers with her free hand, as though she had completely forgotten he had been taking her somewhere. "These stores that specialize in the old things usually have some really good finds, if you have the patience to look."
Sesshomaru watched curiously as she discovered a very old, autographed album by a mortal band he'd never heard of. Her eyes lit with excitement and she waved it in his face.
"Oh my gosh, do you realize who this is! I saw them play their very first gig in a club right here in Tokyo. And it's autographed! Let's go see how much we can get them to take off the price," she told him, and once again Sesshomaru found himself being pulled along by Maika.
She haggled to get the price reduced by half and walked out of the store with a very satisfied smirk on her face. "That mor-man lost money on that one. He had no idea how much this thing is really worth. The original price wasn't even close."
"So, why did you not just pay the man's price?" Sesshomaru asked, openly amused and bewildered by her.
She looked up into his eyes and winked. "Now where's the fun in that?"
Sesshomaru just smiled and shook his head. She squeezed his hand and whispered, "You should smile more. It makes you look ten times as vicious."
Sesshomaru glanced down at her sharply, raising an eyebrow. "The few who have seen it seem to think it makes me look more pleasant." He scraped the last word off his tongue with distaste.
Maika winked at him again and said, "Well, true, but if I told you that, you'd stop doing it. You seem to like the heartless image you portray."
Sesshomaru gave her a dangerous smirk in response.
They made their way slowly through town towards Sesshomaru's original destination, stopping every so often at the random stores that seemed to attract Maika's interest. One had been a store that sold authentic Western clothing and memorabilia from the 1920s. She had made Sesshomaru wait while she tried on a flapper dress and strings of pearls. She had even managed to get him to try on a rather gaudy hat, though the poor clerks, who had had the audacity to snicker at the image, nearly wet themselves at the angry growl and glower they received from the youkai.
She had ended up buying him the hat, said it made him look exotic. The next stop took them to a store that sold handcrafted art works constructed purely of things washed up from the ocean--shells, pearls, coral, driftwood--a large assortment of cleverly manipulated natural objects. Sesshomaru had actually found the shop interesting and had purchased a small pearl statue for his penthouse and a necklace made of shells for Reiku. He also discovered a pair of earrings that he thought would look very beautiful dangling from Maika's perfect lobes. They were made of a polished red coral that matched the brilliant shade of color she used on her lips.
When Maika wasn't looking, he slipped them to the clerk, though he inwardly questioned why he had felt the desire to buy her anything. And he certainly had no idea when he would give them to her. It wasn't like he could just hand her the box and say, "Here, I thought these would look good on you."
No, she would read too much into a gift like that. There had to be some way to get them to her casually, he decided as he slipped the box into his pocket.
When they finally reached the place Sesshomaru had in mind, he abruptly turned and tugged her hand for her to follow. Smiling, she looked at the rather ancient-looking doors and said, "I take it we're here."
Sesshomaru nodded. Together they ascended the steps and entered the artificially cool air of the Tokyo Museum. Sesshomaru truly did enjoy coming here; the air felt older here, more infused with the magic and scents of the world he had dominated as the Western Lord. In fact, he didn't feel quite so old surrounded by the artifacts. Not that he was old by youkai standards, but as new and rapidly changing as the world had become, those like himself, who lingered and changed little and very slowly, tended to be isolated, like islands as the tides of change ebbed and flowed past them. Here he could find a brief respite from the dizzying pace of things and put his feet on solid ground for a while.
He paused in the lobby to appreciate the sensation. This was where most women wrinkled their noses and complained, "Everything is so old in here. It smells musty."
Maika paused with him, closing her eyes as she inhaled deeply. "Wow, the atmosphere is so deep in here. Calming, yet strangely energized. She smiled and the air seemed to stir as though a slothful breeze had just turned over in its sleep, then it settled back as she opened her eyes.
She turned up to him. "Thank you for bringing me here. I don't know why I've never come before."
Surprised by this reaction, and inwardly pleased, Sesshomaru led her forward. "Just wait until you see the displays and exhibits inside," his own gaze burned with an excitement and eagerness. "Like the weapons and armor. Though they are made by mort-master sword smiths, who did impressive work for not having as good of technique or tools as youk-you find today."
"I love a good sword," Maika told him. "My parents thought I was odd, but I really just like weapons. Not the modern stuff like guns and bombs, but the old, noble weapons that tested skill and strength."
Sesshomaru nodded and said, "Indeed. Something has been lost in the modern concept of warfare. It does not seem right that some puny man growing soft behind a desk should be able to kill millions simply by making a phone call or pushing a button."
Maika gasped as they moved into the first exhibit hall. It had a display of feudal clothing, examples of everything from the lowliest peasant to imperial robes.
"Oh, these are just beautiful!" she exclaimed as she examined each display.
Sesshomaru followed along at her pace, but his eyes kept drifting to the display he himself had contributed long ago, under a different name. Soon he and Maika came upon the familiar orange and white kimono, protected from curious hands and the elements by thick glass and climate control.
"Now that is just adorable. To think that belonged to a little girl nearly five hundred years ago. I wonder who she was and what she was like. What stories would that kimono have to tell, if it could speak?"
Sesshomaru had moved up to the glass as well, and studied the kimono. He knew what stories it could tell. Of all the tumbles and games and fishing trips. "It would tell of a young girl, who lived the best she could with what life had given her. I think she would have smiled and played and cried and laughed just like any other child," Sesshomaru said softly, remembering each of the instances.
Sometimes he wished he had not donated the clothing, but the memories had been too painful back then. But he could not bear to let them ruin either, so he had given them away where they would be protected and appreciated. A light touch on his shoulder drew him from his thoughts. Maika was pointing at an even smaller brown robe on display beside the kimono.
"I guess that must have belonged to a midget," she said with a giggle. Sesshomaru smiled and said, "You are probably right."
The next exhibit showed the everyday life of feudal aristocracy. There also was a dimly lit display case with several ancient and worn documents ranging from lists of household supply orders to battle plans that would have been sent out to the generals in the field. Sesshomaru pored over these with intense curiosity. It rarely occurred to him that humans also waged wars and, well, had any type of real society back in that era, and he found their attempts at it rather interesting now.
Maika wandered over to a display on how food was prepared, while Sesshomaru scanned the documents, curious to see if humans recorded any of the youkai affairs. He noticed a new document had been added and moved to read it. His eyes widened at a very familiar handwriting and an even more familiar seal at the bottom:
I take it, by the lack of your annoying presence or any form of communication, that the seal has not yet been lifted from my brother. Your persistence in evading my inquiry into the matter irks me, and my patience wanes. I demand to know the name of who is responsible for this disgrace to my kin, and should you fail to answer my questions, I shall see to it that you will not survive to fail in any other matter. Furthermore, my brother's body is not to be desecrated in any way, and I am to be informed immediately of any attempt to approach him.
I will be seeing you soon, though whether you survive the encounter is entirely up to you.
Sesshomaru stopped reading, and tried to suppress a growl as he thought, That's where that letter went! And how the HELL did it get into a museum display?
He had assumed Jaken had lost that letter nearly five hundred and fifty years ago, which apparently was true, but how had it ended up in a human museum along with petty human documents? If Jaken's body had not been buried, he would have revived the old toad just to punish him. Such evidence of his having concerned himself with Inuyasha even before making amends was not something he needed in the open, much less on display for the world to read.
Without thinking, he summoned his dokkaso to retrieve the letter or destroy it. It would never do for Inuyasha or the miko to discover it, which both could easily do as they had access to this time. Just as he was about to melt away the glass casing, Maika stepped up and put a hand on his arm. Instantly, he stopped his poison and lowered his hand.
She smiled up at him and said, "I think I saw some weapons over in the next room. Let's go look in there now."
Sesshomaru relaxed into her touch and allowed himself to be led out. The museum would be closing soon anyways. He would have plenty of time to destroy it later. Besides, it wasn't very often he was able to be with a beautiful woman who seemed to appreciate a blade as much as he did. Perhaps he should show her Tenseiga? That sword had no equal, other than the Tetsusaiga. He knew Maika would properly appreciate it. After all, it was a youkai weapon, not some crude human imitation.
Sesshomaru was impressed with what she knew about weapons, though. Not even youkai women these days seemed to retain so much knowledge of the past ways. He listened attentively to what she told him and was doubly impressed by her lack of hesitation to openly ask when there was a gap or lack in her own knowledge.
Both were surprised when the guard came through warning them that it was fifteen minutes until closing time. Maika gasped and looked down at her watch.
"Oh my, what do you know, it really is getting late. I wish we didn't have to go yet, though. This place is so relaxing. And it would be even better if they let us handle the weapons."
"Indeed," Sesshomaru agreed.
Maika turned to look up at him, her ruby lips lifted in a pout. "Couldn't the great Daiginkeiko Reizo stop time as well as he does traffic?" she pleaded in a coy voice.
Sesshomaru released a throaty chuckle and took her hand into his, pressing it softly against his lips as he whispered in a low growl, "No, but there are a great many other things of value that I can do."
He hid a smile as he felt a shiver run through her at his words.
"And I have one last thing you might like to see before we call it a night."
Maika moved closer to him as he led her towards the exit. "Hmmmm," she said, "You are one interesting man, Mr. Daiginkeiko."
Sesshomaru bent down to her ear and whispered, "As you are an intriguing woman, Maika."
Maika squeezed his hand that had not yet let hers go and said, "Two compliments in one night. You better take it easy, I wouldn't want you to strain yourself."
"Indeed, you should consider yourself fortunate. It is not often that I speak so highly of my employees," Sesshomaru told her as they emerged once again onto the street.
The foot traffic had lessened as the night waxed stronger, and the orange haze of the night lights crept across the sky on the sun's heels. Maika rolled her eyes and replied, "Arrogant much? I swear I've seen peacocks strut less. I just hope you've got some reins on that pride of yours, because you're mine on fair day. And you should consider yourself fortunate. It is not often that I speak so highly of my employers."
Sesshomaru chuckled softly. "Well, I would hate to hear what you normally say to them, or about me behind my back for that matter."
"I have no complaints about that side of you," she told him, meeting his startled glance with a wink and an obvious appraisal of his backside.
Sesshomaru smirked and glanced very pointedly at her own appealing curves, then said smugly, "Of course you don't."
Maika just snorted. She remained silent until he led her into an office building that was dark except for the guard's station. He waved to the mortal sitting there and led her to an elevator, pushing the button for his office's floor as the panels slid shut.
"So where are we going?" she asked as they stood and watched the light move up the numbers.
"I want to show you a sword you can truly appreciate," he informed her.
The doors slid open and he pulled her out and into the darkened hall.
Maika made an indignant sound and jerked her hand free from his as she said, "Gosh, Mr. Subtle, I don't know what all this banter has led you to believe, but no matter how hot you are, I'm not going to be 'appreciating' your sword on the second date!"
Sesshomaru stared at her in confusion for a moment, before he threw back his head and roared with laughter. Maika put her hands on her hips and glared up at him, her eyes smoldering and her lips bent into a vicious frown.
"And what the hell is so funny? Did you think I was some whore?"
Sesshomaru shook his head and snatched her hand up again, still trying to regain his composure. He led her a little forcefully into his office and turned on the light. Still chuckling, he pointed up at Tenseiga, sitting freshly polished in its case.
Maika's dark eyes widened and her ruby lips formed an "O" as she followed his finger up. A very strong wave of embarrassment flooded her scent and her cheeks tinted a flattering shade of pink as she said, "You have a sword."
"Indeed," Sesshomaru told her as he reached up and plucked the sword from its case. It pulsed low once and Sesshomaru snarled at it in warning. He was just glad that with her mortal ears she would not have noticed anything.
Turning to her with it balanced in his palms, he smirked and said, "I, too, refrain from having my 'sword' admired on a second date. However, with this sword I am willing to make an exception for you. It was given to me by my father and has been with our family for a while."
Maika's eyes widened and he could clearly see the awe in them. Yes, of course she would be amazed by this weapon after having only seen human blades. It was just too bad she would not truly realize what a marvelous fang it was. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to snort. She likely thought it was made by human hands. As if humans could create something like Tenseiga.
Sesshomaru drew the familiar object from its sheath, nodding in satisfaction as it slid free with a near musical resonance. Maika gasped and her mouth opened.
"That is gorgeous. And in almost perfect condition." She extended a hand towards it, as though longing to hold it herself, then asked, "May I?"
Sesshomaru nodded and gently released it to her, sending the sword a mental warning against any unruliness while the girl held it. Maika lifted it with a practiced grip and felt its weight and balance.
"Wow, just imagine how many people were killed by this sword," she said aloud.
"That sword does not kill," Sesshomaru explained before thinking.
Maika looked up at him sharply and said, "Doesn't kill?"
Sesshomaru smiled slightly and said, "It has been in my family for a long time. Not much killing for swords to do from a display case."
Maika shook her head. "Well, I meant back when it was made."
She watched him out of the corner of her eye as she studied the weapon. He was so careful, even now, to keep his face guarded, though he couldn't conceal all of the pride when he spoke of the sword.
Poor thing, I wonder why he tries so hard to hide all the time? He acts so cool and he scares the heck out of me half the time. Suave and refined, yet at the same time wild and feral. Such an interesting fellow. I wonder if I would get a reaction from him if I told him his precious heirloom is a youkai blade? Poor mortal, he has no idea of the immense power and value this sword truly has.
Maika handed him the sword and rubbed her fingers together. They still tingled from contact with the demonic aura of the sword. He carefully slid it into the sheath and stretched up to put it back into the case. She bit her lip as she followed each of his graceful movements. Damn was he hot. Why, oh, why did someone that hot have to be mortal? This one had the potential to be so much more than a moment of fun, too. She had never connected so well with anyone before. This afternoon had been bliss. Perhaps he could even the one to...
Maika hurriedly forced herself from that line of thought and absently rubbed the back of her shoulder. No, this was just a mortal. He wouldn't even understand much less be able to do anything against... She shuddered at the thought. No one had ever been able to help; most had not survived the attempt in fact. Reizo she cared too much for to involve.
That realization struck her hard. Did she really and truly care for him, a mortal no less? As he turned back to look at her, the emotions that flooded her thundered a yes. She couldn't say she loved him, but there was definitely something beyond lust there. She removed her hand from her shoulder in a pointed motion. Love or not, she still cared enough about him to not entangle him in her past mistakes.
"Thank you, for showing me that. It is the most magnificent sword I've ever seen," she told him lightly.
He smiled at her. "I thought you would appreciate it. Come, I shall walk you home now."
Maika accepted the extended hand with a smile. The contact always sent tingles through her and made her heart flutter wildly in her chest. Reizo glared at the guard as they walked past, which made Maika smile. She hoped the mortal had enough sense not to gossip about Reizo Daiginkeiko. After all, he had told her himself that her predecessor had lost her position for a loose tongue. When the man blanched, she figured that he did. Or at least had the sense to know the danger. Whether he heeded it or not, well, it was his job.
They continued mostly in silence on the way to her apartment, each wrapped up in their own thoughts, which centered mostly on the person beside them. Maika paused when they reached the foot of the stairs again and looked up at Reizo. His face was so pristine and perfect, a pale, angelic visage wreathed in the midnight halo of his hair. She felt the sudden urge to touch it, but shrank back from the thought, feeling like one low and unworthy in the presence of this celestial being on earth, like her touch might sully that perfection. She couldn't believe she had had the nerve to place her lips on that face before.
He looked down at her with an intensity that was frightening, yet made him seem so vulnerable at the same time. That anything could have so much of his focus was amazing, yet the fact that it was her, left her breathless and scarcely able to stand. She had almost forgotten that their hands were still connected until he released her hand and slid his own up her arm until it came to rest on her cheek.
His touch was paralyzing, yet it set her body on fire. He slid his thumb along her jaw and ran it over her lips. Her breath hitched and she parted her lips in surprise. Try as she might, she could not look away from his gaze. She knew he was seeing her, seeing her soul bared. Then in one smooth motion, he bent forward and his lips pressed against hers. A million thoughts exploded in her mind at once, then dissolved and melted to nothing in the heat of his presence.
Her hands moved of their own accord up his chest and around his neck, where her daring fingers entangled themselves in his silky hair. His other hand moved up to cup her face, his thumbs massaging her lobes, and they deepened the kiss. For a moment they lived in that contact, reveling in the fire that pulsed through their veins. And then their minds revived and threw up caution flags.
Both broke apart suddenly, still panting and flushed. They stared at one another, like wild animals faced with something unknown and frightening, as they hurriedly gathered their wits.
"Thank you, Reizo, for walking me home again. This was a wonderful evening," Maika told him, forcing a casual smirk onto her still throbbing lips.
Reizo, composed once again, replied, "No, thank you for a most interesting evening, Maika."
He turned to leave when Maika remembered the hat she had gotten for him. "Oh, Reizo," she called out to him, blinking in shock when he was at the foot of her stair again. She didn't even remember seeing him turn around.
"Maika?" his rich voice questioned. She shivered slightly before she got a good grip on herself.
"Your hat," she said holding up the large, purple, feather-trimmed Western monstrosity.
He grimaced and arched an eyebrow at it.
She frowned right back and extended it to him. "Either you take it home now, or I'll make you wear it at the fair all day," she threatened.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "You wouldn't."
She arched her own eyebrow in reply.
Reizo looked from her to the hat, then in a flash his lips brushed hers in a brief, chaste kiss. Maika's eyes closed and she struggled not to be the one to deepen it. Then just as suddenly, his warmth was gone. She opened her eyes to find him several feet away with the hat dangling from his hand.
"I shall see you in the morning, Maika. Sleep well," he told her, then he walked away, at his own leisurely pace.
She watched until he had passed the end of the block, then she practically flew upstairs to her apartment. Once inside, she giggled like a school girl and said, "He kissed me! And is he one hell of a kisser!"
She sighed and threw herself onto the couch. "Maika, girl, I think you're falling for a mortal."
Giggling yet again, she rolled over to her back and hugged a pillow to her chest. "I can't believe he kissed me!"
A powerful surge of youkai energy rolled through the area so suddenly it sent Maika tumbling off the couch in surprise. In a flash she was at the window, searching for the source. She had not even been aware there were still youkai that powerful alive. It had to be a daiyoukai to radiate that much power at rest. She shivered to think of what it would feel like when he was enraged.
How do you know it's a he? she asked herself.
Maika rolled her eyes and scanned the area for any sign of the mysterious youkai. She thought for a minute that she saw a flash of something white on the roof of a far off building, but it could have been anything. She had a feeling that if this guy didn't want to be seen, he wouldn't be. Returning to her couch, she removed her concealment charm and turned her thoughts back to the smoldering kiss and her arrogant boss who gave it to her. This could hardly be considered ethical as far as work was concerned. But she could always find another job.
"Now speaking of power, if that man were a youkai, he'd be a daiyoukai for sure," she told herself.
But what if that was him? Who's to say he's not a youkai disguising himself with a charm like your own? her thoughts replied.
"Hmph, I'm not that lucky," she argued.
And is it really so bad if he isn't a youkai? You can't say today hasn't been one of the best in your life.
Maika had no response to herself on that one, and chose to ignore it for now. Breaking out into giggles once more, she said, "Oh gosh, he kissed me!"
Hoping she'd gotten all trace of teenage hormones out of her system, she decided she needed to clear her head some before trying to sleep. Maika returned to the window, her keys in hand. Taking up the long, slender keychain that dangled from the few keys she had to carry, she tapped it to her chin as she looked out at the street. She didn't see anyone about, or anyone in any of the neighboring windows. Stepping up onto the sill, Maika reached up and plucked a small feather that she wore tucked into her hair. She tossed it out, filling it with her own power as it grew and rose up into the air on a strong wind. She knelt on top of it, staring at the stars that grew visible as she flew up and above the range of the city lights.
She closed her eyes as the winds swirled about her. She inhaled deeply. Ahhhh, freedom. The wind should always be free.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sesshomaru glared down at the hat Maika had forced onto him, willing it to change its hideous color and style into something remotely less repulsive. He drew his dokkaso to his claws at its blatant refusal to comply, but let it slip away with a sigh. Damn woman, he couldn't bring himself to destroy the awful thing. How she managed to gain such a hold over him he would never know.
The firm sweetness of her lips came to his mind and he growled at the very unlordly thoughts the image kindled. He could still taste her and her scent permeated the air around him, infused into his clothing, skin and hair, mingling with his own to create an intoxicating aroma that had his innermost base youkai desires testing his steadily failing restraints. He needed some kind, any kind, of distraction to keep his mind from wandering where it shouldn't. He had not waited over five hundred years to just throw himself on the first woman that had actually caught his eye since Kagura.
Fortune, it seemed, was smiling on the youkai lord that evening. Or else misfortune had its eye on the little snake youkai lurking in the alley just ahead. It was not wearing any type of concealment charm, relying on its own abilities to blend in with the surrounding area as it lay in wait for something weak to pass by. It's second mistake was confusing the disguised Sesshomaru for that weak something. One minute the snake was crouched behind a garbage bin watching the young human approach; the next it was knocked on its back by a tremendous surge of youki and a snarling, golden-eyed, white-haired streak had clawed its body into mincemeat.
Sesshomaru stared blankly down at the lesser creature, flicking the blood from his claws in distain. Pathetic. It was not even a challenge for this Sesshomaru. I had hoped for a little more of a defense.
He sighed inaudibly and walked deeper into the alley, having no real desire to reactivate the charm. He needed to work off some stress and these days the number of annoying lesser youkai to sharpen his claws on had diminished. He thought back to his letter that had found its way into the museum. He did have that one last task that needed to be done, and though he usually delegated that to his underlings, this evening he thought he could use a little hands-on work.
Effortlessly, he sprang up into the air, landing atop the building, then using his youkai speed, launched himself into the night in the direction of the museum. He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of the wind tugging at his long mane as though trying to catch him. The other youkai in the area jolted with fear and trepidation as he passed. His own power level was a rare phenomenon back in the feudal era, and nowadays he had become a mere legend even among youkai. This made Sesshomaru smile and he flared his aura just to rattle them further. It was good to remind them every now and then of just who still held the true authority and power.