Okay you guys, I'm so sorry I made you wait so long! My friend just moved into her own place, and I've been over there making food because she only knows how to make Crap Dinner, and I pitied her, and her cat is such a huge butthead, and it makes me sneeze, and eats my hair, and climbs my legs... Anyway, I had a bit of the block too, but I promised myself I'd sit here all day if I had to and work it out, and it's working quite nicely! So, sorry again for the wait, I haven't forgotten you, I just had a hard time for a bit. Enjoy!
Deds:
anime-lover-forever2007 - Damn girl, you are one freaky chick! Fine, if you want him that bad, you can have him. Go ahead, take it all! See if I ever smile again! sniff, j/k!
Kitsune's Lover - I watched that the other day, I LOVE that movie, it's sooo funny! Dave Chappelle is a crackup! My fav part is when when they're dressed up as chicks and Will tells Blinkin to fix his boobs cuz he looks like a Picasso! lol!
the.love.lie - Yer new, thanks for the compliment! I like you already!
susie202 - Yer new too, and I'm so flattered you think my work is good. I like you, too!
S. T. Nickolian - Well, yer not a newbie, heh heh. I still like you though, don't make any mistakes about that! Naraku has ideas up his sleeve, and a good way to get rid of Sesshy, so watch out Kagome! Yaaahhh!
cookiemonsterks - (8)"Cruising to the Strip Joint...screw Margaritaville...no naked chicks there...not that I care..."(8) hahahaha! it will be...interesting, I promise! God I can't sing.
Du Weldenvarden Farcai - Wow, what a mouthful. Welcome to my story, and thank you for taking the time to review, even though I've been a bad girl and haven't posted for a week (?) or something like that...and thanks for the praise, I'm blushing! No, bad Shannon, you were bad, you didn't update, someone should spank you for your neglectfullness! Don't mind me, I'm crazy, and I can admit it. It's the first step toward recovery. - heehee!
P.S. Hey, if I was smart, I'd wait this long between each post; get more reviews that way! lol, no, I won't be that mean...not on purpose, anyway!
Sweet Temptation
Kagome came home ten minutes after the Taisho boys, and Sesshoumaru was right behind her. He'd gone to work that day expecting a pink slip on his desk, but had received nothing; no word, no hint that Mr. Onigumo even remembered the call from his Father on Saturday night. He knew he should have felt relieved, but the lack of activity only made him even more nervous. If his boss was out to stress him, it was certainly working!
She got out of her car, and went straight to him, and he held his arms open, holding her tight as soon as she was within his reach.
She looked up at him and placed her hands on his chest, saying, "Sesshoumaru, I…would you come in with me?"
He looked into her soft brown eyes and smiled, his eyes flicking momentarily to his own house, the white car in the drive going unnoticed to his love-tinted eyes.
"Lead the way, honey," he whispered, kissing her eyelids, her lashes tickling his lip. She pulled him in, and neither of them heard Kikyou and Kagura come upstairs. Kikyou saw them, and spun around so fast that she smacked Kagura in the face. "Ow! Watch it!"
"I'm sorry! I forgot something down here!" It was Rin's room, but the bows and arrows were down there, and Kikyou had to get Kagura out of the house and occupied with something - anything - so that she wouldn't spot her sister dragging Sesshoumaru up to her bedroom. Kikyou knew that Kagura was back to her old self, but she still didn't trust her any further than she could throw her, and she was not going to risk her seeing what she had just seen.
"You want to learn how to use a bow? We're not doing anything else."
"Fine."
Kikyou sighed in relief. Crisis averted!
Kagome pulled him up the stairs slowly, kissing him all the way. He began to undress her half-way up, and by the time they reached the bed, he was naked.
She threw him down, and began to kiss her way up his chest, leaving a hot trail of saliva in her wake. He pulled off her bra and threw it at the wall as she laid on his chest, and started to suck his neck, and hold him tight, as if she couldn't get close enough. A feeling of love so unbound swelled within him that he couldn't stop himself from returning her attentions, and rolled her over so that he was on top.
She smiled at him, but it didn't last long; she was worried, and she wanted him as close to her as he could get, as either of them could possibly be to the other, and she wanted to stay that way. Her thoughts must have shown on her face because he rubbed a thumb between her brows to smooth the skin there and remarked, "Such deep thoughts. What is going on inside that mind of yours that makes you concentrate so hard?"
She sniffled then, and before he knew it, she was crying. Rolling off her, he knew that now was not the time for sex; no matter how much they both desired it, she needed to be reassured more than she needed sex.
"I don't want to lose you, Sesshoumaru, I've been worried out of my mind all week, and I'm making myself sick over it. I was so worried this morning that I threw up."
He laid her head against his chest and smoothed her hair, and told her, "You're worrying too much. I'm worried too, Kagome, but I try not to show it. People can use feelings like that against you. If you see Kagura, don't let her see it; don't let her see anything. She'll only use it against you."
Kagome sniffed, and placed her ear over his heart. "I love you so much Sesshoumaru…I don't know what I'd do if something were to take you away from me."
He shushed her. "That won't happen. I won't let it. Will it make you feel better if I stay with you?"
"Will you? Every night?"
The look in her eyes was so hopeful that he had to smile.
"Yes, every night. I'll move in, if you want me to."
"I want you to. More than anything, I want you with me." The conviction of her words was so strong he had a hard time believing that she'd been crying when she said them.
"If that's what you want, Kagome, then that's what I'll do."
She lifted her head to see his face. "Do you think your Father will mind?"
He chuckled, kissing her nose. "I doubt it. I'm twenty years old; he probably can't wait to get rid of me."
She smiled too, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"No, I don't think so. I think if Daichi had his way, none of you would ever leave. He enjoys the drama too much to ever let you leave him behind."
Sesshoumaru smiled. "Yeah, you're right. Dad's always been too much fun to stay away from for long."
"Good thing you won't be moving far then, huh?"
"Yeah. Maybe now would be a good time to start."
She grinned, and dried the rest of her tears on the sheet. "Yeah, let's! I'll help you."
"You mean you'll kiss me and slow me down while I pack? That's fine by me."
Dressing each other, they quietly made their way downstairs and out the door, crossing over to Sesshoumaru's. He still didn't notice the white car, even as he dragged a hand over its hood on his way past. If he had stopped to look at the plates, he wouldn't have been so shocked when he opened the door.
S.T.
When Sesshoumaru brought Kagome home, he opened the door and was faced with all his brothers, milling around the room quietly and occasionally looking up at the ceiling. He frowned. "What's going on? What's wrong with you?"
"Shh!" Miroku interrupted, and pointed up. Sesshoumaru made a What the hell are you talking about gesture.
"Mom's back," Shippo whispered, and Sesshoumaru's face went blank.
Kagome pulled her hand from his, and turned to leave.
"I'll go, you guys will want to be alone with your Mom-"
"Oh no you don't. I want her to meet you. And besides, you need to be here, you're practically family. My family." He held her close again and pecked her lips, amazed that no comment issued from his brothers.
It was a while before Daichi came downstairs, and upon seeing the groceries still on the floor, thought, Shit, shoulda put that away.
But he had more important things to do than clean that up just now. He sat down and all his sons gathered in, jostling for positions. He smiled at Kagome; they would need her here, to explain the whole situation.
"Listen, boys. You're Mother has come home, but she can't stay. I want you all to know that she has a very good reason for leaving, and when she comes down I'll let her tell you the whole story."
Shippo frowned and crossed his arms. He didn't care what she had to say; she'd left him, and he hated her for it. Nothing she could ever say would change that.
When Amaya came down ten minutes later, towelling her hair dry, she stopped at the bottom of the steps and just looked at her boys.
Sesshoumaru was so tall now, the spitting image of his Father. Inuyasha was coming up, a very handsome young man; Miroku, too was growing nicely into himself, and she gazed with happiness upon his kind eyes. Kouga was also quite handsome, and she knew that he'd break more than a few hearts in his lifetime, and hoped she'd be there when he did. And lastly, she rested her eyes upon Shippo, her baby. He refused to smile at her, and her heart contracted. Did he hate her? She felt tears sting her eyes, and quickly wiped them away. She'd have to speak with him.
Her eyes strayed to the young woman, with black hair and brown eyes, her hand clutched tightly in Sesshoumaru's. This must be Kagome, she thought, smiling warmly at her.
Sitting next to Daichi, who took her hand in his for moral support, for he knew this would be difficult, she said, "Oh, you guys… I missed you so much!" and she couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Four of her sons rushed to her, Sesshoumaru standing behind her, his hand on her back, while the other three knelt before her on the floor, comforting their long lost Mother. She held out her arms and hugged them all for a long time, and soon everyone was crying, even Shippo, though he still refused to come to her.
Finally she got up and approached him, saying, "Shippo darling…I'm so sorry, but I had to, baby…I went away for you. I never stopped thinking about all of you for even one second! Please, don't turn me away."
Finally breaking down, he turned his muscular little body into her shoulder and clung to her like the child he still was, and sobbed his misery while she wrapped him up tightly in her arms. Kagome had a hard time controlling her own tears as she watched Amaya cajole Shippo into acknowledging her, and she smiled up at Sesshoumaru, who smiled back, hugging her around her shoulders with his left arm, his other hand on Daichi's shoulder.
Amaya led Shippo back to the couch where Daichi moved over to make room for him between himself and his wife. Wiping her tears with her bathrobe sleeve, she began.
"Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Miroku, Kouga, Shippo…Kagome," she called each by name and they stared back at her, the atmosphere in the room suddenly becoming thick with tension.
"We all are at a very dangerous time in our lives - especially you two." She nodded to Sesshoumaru and Kagome. Sesshoumaru tightened his grip on Kagome and she rested her cheek against his shoulder, the steady beat of his heart reassuring and calming her frazzled nerves. "A man named Naraku Onigumo is in possession of one Sacred Jewel, known as the Shikon no Tama. This jewel is extremely powerful. Once the binding spell on it is removed, it has the capacity to destroy the world as we know it, and a very dangerous man holds it in the palm of his hand."
Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru, and whispered, "Kagura's Father… oh Sesshoumaru!" and buried her face in his shoulder, her cries muffled in the cotton. The implications of Amaya's story were stupendous - and she hadn't even heard the whole thing yet! She needed drugs, and fast.
Amaya knew that Kagome's state of mind was fragile, and really didn't need to hear what she was about to say, but she plunged ahead regardless, it had to be said.
"Kagome, you are the only one who can remove the spell."
Kagome looked up at the older woman, and sniffled loudly, making everyone in the room wince at the disgusting noise. "Sorry," she said, then whispered, "Why me? How?"
Standing, and coming to pause next to her son's girlfriend, she put a comforting hand on the young woman's arm and explained, "Because you are the eldest in a long line of priestesses. Do you know of an ancestor of yours, Midoriko?"
Kagome's mouth dropped open. "Great-great-grandmother Midoriko? Oh, no!" she wiped her nose again, on her sleeve.
"My mother used to tell me and the girls about her, that she had been a very powerful woman, but she never told us we were anything special. Why me, and why now? What is going on?"
Amaya brought her to a chair to sit in before she passed out, for the colour had drained from her face and she was swaying crazily all the way to the chair. Kneeling before her, Amaya continued.
"I am a spy for the Government, Kagome. I have been spying on Naraku Onigumo for more than twenty years. Five years ago, he found me out and has been trying to kill me ever since, forcing me to leave my boys and go into hiding. Just being here right now has put you all in danger, since he lives three doors away, but I had to risk it, for everyone's safety. He is a dangerous man, Kagome, and he knows about you now. My last intelligence message was that he had moved here because he had finally found the girl who was Midoriko's descendant, and that upon your eighteenth birthday, you would have the ability to remove the spell, for that is how old your great-great-grandmother was when she placed the spell. Has he tried to contact you yet?"
She shook her head, "No, but his daughter wants Sesshoumaru and has threatened to hurt me if he doesn't comply."
Amaya nodded her head, all her suspicions confirmed. The prophecy was true…
"Listen to me, Kagome. You have to be extra careful now. He will probably try to contact you at work. He will offer you a pink ball, and when you touch it, it will glow, and he will know you are the one. I cannot allow that to happen. Can you take this weekend off?"
Kagome smacked her forehead. "No way Ken's going to give me another weekend. I just took this past weekend! He barely let me have the one I got, no way he's gonna let me off again, and besides, it's only a weekend job, but I make more in those two days than in five days at the doctor's office, and I need the money to keep our house!"
Amaya nodded in understanding; before she'd gotten snatched up by the Government, she herself had worked a few odd jobs to keep afloat.
"Alright, well, Sesshoumaru, you will have to go with her, and keep an eye on her. Do not let her out of your sight for one second, do you understand me?"
"Yes Mom, I do. I won't let anything happen to you, Kagome." He pulled her to him once more and kissed her temple, his brothers looking away, envious.
"Alright." she stood, and pushed her wet hair off her face. "I just hope we can contain him and take possession of the Jewel before he awakens its true power. If that happens…pray for mercy."
She pulled Kagome aside, and told her, "If he manages to corner you and Sesshoumaru cannot help you, play along with him. If he thinks you are ignorant he will be less likely to harm you in the end. And if you get that Jewel…do not call out its name, do you hear me?"
Amaya's words were so desperate that Kagome nodded her head just to appease the woman.
"Good," she sighed, and visibly relaxed. Wow, Kagome thought, she really is scared. And I thought I was anxious, I can't imagine what her life must have been like the past five years, that's an awful skeleton to have in your closet.
Kagome did make a mental note not to call out the name of the Jewel, and Sesshoumaru told them then of his plans to move out, and Daichi broke out the champagne to celebrate. Though he would miss Sesshoumaru, he wasn't going but a holler away, and in an effort to lighten the mood, he suggested a family trip to High Thighs that weekend, much to the consternation of his wife against five cheers from their sons who thought that was an excellent idea. Kagome just turned red and hid her face in Sesshoumaru's shirt once more, her embarrassment complete.
S.T.
Later, in Sesshoumaru's room, as she helped him pack his most necessary things, since they decided to move him out over a few days, and there wasn't any hurry. Sesshoumaru suddenly remarked, "You know, that's not a bad idea."
"What's not?" Kagome asked, stuffing his work shirt neatly into his duffel bag that he used to use when he played hockey as a boy.
"All of us going to High Thighs."
She turned to look at him, and said, "I refuse to strip for minors, especially your brothers. I have a rep I'd like to keep intact, thank you."
He smiled, but she didn't smile back. "I'm serious," she pressed, punching the shirts in. "I refuse! I'll quit first, and you know I can't afford to do that. Don't make your favourite girlfriend pack up her family and move into the Poor House."
"I'm serious, too. It would mean several extra pairs of eyes, and more protection for you. Can't you change your routine so you don't take everything off?"
She huffed and puffed, then turned to him, all worked up. "No, I can't, Ken would fire me! As thoughtful as your idea may seem, Sesshoumaru, or rather, your Father's idea," she rolled her eyes, "it's a terrible one! No!"
"Alright, just I'll go then," he said, walking around his bed and wrapping his arms around her from behind, nuzzling her neck with his nose and licking her soft spot, just below her ear.
"Good," she replied, closing her eyes and just enjoying the feel of him so close to her. "If your brothers ever saw my routine I'd never hear the end of it, and my sisters would behead me in their extreme displeasure because their love interests have lost interest. I don't relish that at all."
He smiled, and kissed her neck, turning her to face him.
"I promise I won't let anything happen to you."
She held him to her, trying to ignore the sick feeling of premonition in her gut. Something Amaya had said earlier rung like a gong in her mind: Do not call out its name.
She shuddered, and led Sesshoumaru to his bed, where she pulled him down next to her and just begged him hold her, until she fell asleep.
S.T.
On Saturday morning, Kagome awoke, and rolled into a warm body.
Sesshoumaru rolled over to face her, but he was still sleeping. He looked like a little boy when he was asleep. She smiled.
Getting up, she realised she'd fallen asleep in her clothes and leaned over to kiss his forehead, before she turned to go home.
She was just through the door when Sesshoumaru grumbled, "Wait."
She came back, saying, "Shh, go back to sleep. I have to get the girls up and ready, they probably all came home late last night. Come over when you're ready."
He breathed out, and she left, closing the front door quietly behind her. In her own house, only Rin was awake, and eating Cheerios in the living room, watching T.V.
"Everyone still asleep?"
Rin nodded. "Kagura slept over last night."
Kagome frowned. She really didn't like that girl. It was about time she told Kikyou how dangerous her friend and her family really were.
"Is Kikki in her room?"
Rin shook her head. "She's in my room. Kagura snores."
Kagome smiled as soon as her back was turned to her sister. What an unattractive habit, she thought, smirking.
Kagome jogged downstairs and sat next to her sister's sleeping body, and leaned over her, licking her finger and jamming it in Kikyou's ear.
"Yuck, get away!" Kikyou hissed, trying to swat her hand away. Kagome laughed. "Wake up, sleepyhead. We gotta talk."
Kikyou rolled over, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "I know, Inuyasha told me."
Kagome blinked. "When?"
"Late last night. After Kagura fell asleep."
Kagome sighed in relief, and Kikyou grabbed her hand. "Let me get rid of her, and then we can tell the others. I'll go up right now and tell her that I have an appointment today, and she'll go. Okay?"
Kagome nodded, and Kikyou hugged her. She could see the strain of the tension taking its toll on her sister, and her heart went out to her. Kagura made her uncomfortable, and Kikyou had forgotten. She felt ashamed; what kind of sister forgets something like that?
When Kagome came out of her room, dressed in new clothes, Kagura was gone, and Sango and Ayame sat at the table with Kikyou, Rin having gone to hang out with Shippo at the park a few blocks away.
As the girls ate their Cheerios, Kikyou reaching into a lower cupboard for the sugar, Kagome joined them, and Kikyou passed her the box.
"So, what's this we hear you're in danger?" Sango remarked, putting her spoon in her mouth and crunching loudly. Kikyou's eyes flew to Kagome's, who met them, then looked away.
"Kagura's Father is evil," Kikyou said around a mouthful of Cheerios, and Kagome remained silent.
"What do you mean? I don't like Kagura, but I didn't know you thought she was evil, Kikyou. You're her best friend!"
"I didn't say she was evil, though she was sure acting like it for a while there," Kikyou mumbled, flipping open last week's newspaper, which happened to be lying next to her bowl.
"Are you in trouble, Kagome?" Ayame asked, her brow furrowed. She didn't like the thought of any of her sisters in danger.
"I might be, yes. Sesshoumaru's coming to work with me tonight. Apparently this Onigumo guy is going to try and see if I can awaken some jewel."
"We know, Kikki told us last night, after Kagura started snoring." Sango smiled, in an effort to lighten the mood.
"I can't believe Mrs. Taisho is a spy," Ayame remarked, and the rest of them nodded their agreement.
"I had no idea. At first I thought she was nuts, but Daichi believed her, and I trust him. If he thinks she's telling the truth, than so do I." Kagome's sisters were surprised that she was so calm. Kikyou supposed she was keeping her fears to herself for their sake, so no one would start freaking out, but she couldn't repress the feeling of fear that threatened to sever her own fragile hold on reality.
Sango looked at Ayame, thinking something similar. Sango spoke up, "Well, maybe we should go out today. You know, to get your mind off things, until you have to go to work. What do you say? We can ask the guys to come with, and we'll go bowling, or something."
Kikyou smiled, and Ayame beamed. Kagome allowed a small grin to tug at her lips.
"That's not a bad idea, Sango. You're smarter than you look."
Sango made a face, as if falsely accused. "I'm so insulted! That was so rude!"
Kagome laughed, and Ayame punched Sango good-naturedly. Kikyou shovelled in her last bite, and scraped the sugar off the bottom of the bowl with the spoon as she collected milk. "I think that's a great idea. You're a genius, Sango."
Sango smiled. "Thank you, I know, you don't have to tell me. It's not easy being me, you know. Smart, beautiful, athletic, a real catch-"
Kikyou punched her, "Don't go getting carried away, Miss Perfect! You have four other people to compete with, you know!"
Kagome smiled at her sisters' antics. Maybe today would be a good day after all.
S.T.
Rin looked sidelong at Shippo from behind her hair. They sat down on a bench, and watched the skateboarders do stunts on a ramp to their right.
She felt her smile grow as she looked down at her hand, firmly gripped in his. She felt all her blood rush to her face in a hot blush, and dipped her head lower to hide it.
Shippo felt like he'd sprouted wings and had experienced flight for the first time. He'd been really confused last night after the sudden appearance of his Mother, and after spending a few hours just talking with her, after Sesshoumaru had taken Kagome upstairs, he'd felt better than he had in five years. So, the next morning, while checking his email, Rin had come on Messenger and he'd asked her to the park.
Now, as he sat tightly gripping her hand, his thumb stroking her knuckles, he smiled. On his way out his mother had been packing her things. She smiled at him on the way by, and said, "Be good to her, Shippo. She loves you, you know."
At first he had been confused. How did she know about Rin? But he figured one of his brothers had told her. He blushed, but promised, "I will, Mom. I will."
Now, he pulled her hair back to reveal her small smile, and tucked the lock behind her ear. Leaning close, he whispered, "You're pretty today."
She laughed. "Are you saying I'm not pretty any other day?" He was about to retort but his words died on his lips at her laughter.
"You know what I mean," he mumbled, and turned her chin so he could look right into her face, and she abruptly quieted, and as he drew nearer, her eyes shifted down, her lids following, until they rested on his mouth, closing in on her own with such sudden alacrity that she felt as if it were someone else and not her this was happening to.
As his warm lips pecked hers, then pulled away, she felt cheated; she wanted more, so she chased him, seeking his lips until they were once again hers, and she trapped him there with her hand to his head, so he could not escape, not that he even wanted to. He was delighted that she'd chased him, and was only too eager to learn her flavour.
Rin felt the world around them slip away as Shippo kissed her deeper, and knew that he was everything she'd imagined him to be. Trailing her hand down his neck to cup his jaw, she cringed as her phone rang, and she broke the kiss, and he furrowed his brow. "Who is it?"
She flipped open the phone and replied, "It's my sisters. I wonder what's going on?"
She answered, "Hello?" as Shippo leaned in to hear better.
"Hey Rin, it's Kikki. You and Shippo wanna come bowling? We're all going."
Shippo said, "Ask her if my Mom's going."
"Is Mrs.Taisho coming?"
"No, she's going to stay at the house with Daichi, until she leaves, which she said wouldn't be until after that guy tries for Kags, so we thought we'd take sis's mind off things by bowling. You two in?"
Rin looked at Shippo. "Why not? Sounds like fun."
"We're in," Rin told Kikyou, and Kikyou said, "Alright, meet us here in ten. Bye!"
"Bye."
Rin flipped the phone shut and jammed it back in her shoulder bag, and turned to Shippo, her face flushed.
"We should do this again," she murmured, leaning her forehead against his.
"We will, I promise," he murmured back, kissing her one last time before taking her hand and leading her through the park and up the block back home.
S.T.
Ohh, mushy! Shippo loves Rin! neener neener neener! Lol, I'm such a butthead. Once again, thanks for waiting you guys, I'll try to never do it again. I was bad, and I feel bad, don't worry I feel so guilty. Sigh. Bad girl... Anyway, I'm still writing, and the bowling scene is funny, so stay tuned, and review me! You were so good last chap, I'm inspired! Yay! I smell like a hooker... go cheap perfume!