Within Darkness
Chapter 7
Amaya laid on her futon in her chamber and watched time slip by. She enjoyed the peace and idleness of her life. Sesshomaru would inherit the Western Lands, Amaya knew. Yet she felt something was missing from her life. She had everything she would have in the Eastern Lands. Except maybe one thing.
A mate. I'm missing a mate, Amaya thought.
"What's with the thoughtful look," she heard nearby.
Amaya looked and saw her dearest friend there. "I feel something's missing in my life, Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru closed the gap and sat down on the futon, where Amaya laid comfortably on her stomach. He sat where he could still sit, but rest on her upper body.
"And what's that, dear sister?"
"A mate."
"Why would you want one? You have no need for such responsibility."
"It's not the responsiblity, it's the companionship I want. Haven't you ever want that?" Amaya turned her head and looked at Sesshomaru.
"I have no need for such a thing."
Amaya turned her head away from Sesshomaru. Amaya felt him t urn her head to look back at him. There was something in his eyes, Amaya could feel his body react to something unseen. She felt Sesshomaru move to kneel at the futon's side. They held that position, unaware that they moved ever closer. Then, by some unknown force, their lips locked. Amaya could not explain what she felt, but she enjoyed it. Only a throat clearing cough parted them. Sesshomaru ulled away too fast for Amaya's liking.
"Don't worry so much," Sesshomaru said before he left.
Amaya looked to the door and saw Moriko there.
"Why did you do that Moriko?" Amaya climbed off of the futon.
"Lord Togaou would not be pleased."
"Who cares? You know what he did to me."
"I do. But do me this one favor and keep yourself."
"I'll do my best."
Moriko smiled.
0o
So, spring past into summer and Togaou had been mysteriously disappearing of late. Amaya did not mind that. It gave her the chance to brush up on some rusty responsiblities. Whenever Togaou left the Castle, it fell to Sesshomaru and her to run the Castle. Amaya had little to worry about. She had all of Sesshomaru's as he had Togaou's. That did not mean AMaya had the choice of skirting her responsibilities. She had her own responsiblities to tend to as well. Those were few enough that Amaya did not worry much.
"Don't fret over your lack of a mate," Moriko told Amaya. "It's Lord Sesshomaru that has to worry."
"Yet it is Sesshomaru and I that need to worry about that kiss."
Since the day of the kiss, AMaya felt the urge for more. But she knew that if she had gone further than that, her potential of finding a potential kiss would decrease. "You and Lord Sesshomaru have responsiblities respectful to your own lands."
"I don't have any lands, remember?"
"You are still the daughter of the Eastern Lands."
The two walked into the entrance courtyard just in time to see Togaou entering. Amaya said nothing. SHe did not like how Togaou would mysteriously come and go of late. She did not fully trust him after what he attempted to do to her with Junichi.
"Amaya, may I speak with you," he asked. Amaya nodded and joined Togaou. Moriko took a cue and left the two alone. "I know I've given you reason not to trust me," Togaou began. "So you have every right to refuse."
"What is it, Togaou?"
"There's someone I wish for you to watch over. A human princess by the name of Izayoi. Her palace is three days south of here as the Ryuu flies."
Amaya listened to the request. She did not know if she should accept or not. After all, Amaya had planned on developing her powers more.
"Will you allow me to think on it?"
"I will."
With a decision averted for the time being, Amaya returned to her chamber. She had a feeling Togaou had laid with this Izayoi. But Amaya knew that it was not so uncommon for any ruler to have something on the side.
"So, Father asked you to watch over his concubine," Amaya heard Sesshomaru say from the door.
"He did. I'm not sure if I should or not."
"He asked because he trusts you more than we do him."
"This coming from one who might gain a younger half-sibling."
Sesshomaru instantly lashed out at Amaya; back handing her. Amaya did not even think before she returned the strike.
"Get out, NOW!"
Sesshomaru said nothing when he left Amaya's chamber. Amaya could not believe that they had reverted to their personalities that they had when they first met. Amaya had just perhaps destroyed the relationship. She rushed to the door and saw Sesshomaru was not in the corridor. Amaya managed to compose herself enough to look for him. Amaya finally found her adopted brother sitting under an apple tree in her garden. Amaya walked over and sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry, Amaya. I should not have left your words get to me. I hated how I hit you like that."
"It hurt that you did that, Sesshomaru. Promise me that you will never do that again."
"On my life, I promise."
Amaya smiled and rested her head on Sesshomaru's shoulder. He shifted and wrapped the arm around Amaya.
"Should I tell Father I will watch over the concubine," Amaya asked after several minutes.
"You should."
0o
Amaya finished her packing and placed her two trunks by her chamber door. She did not know how long she would be at the palace.
"So Father plans for you to leave tomorrow," Amaya heard from the door.
"He does. Moriko is coming as well."
Sesshomaru walked into the chamber. "It's good that someone would be watching over you." He closed the door.
Amaya turned to Sesshomaru with a laughing smile. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"It means I worry for you."
The look Amaya saw told her that Sesshomaru was being serious. She turned to fully face Sesshomaru and crossed her arms.
"You're serious."
"I care for you, Amaya. More than you know."
"Tell me, then."
Amaya watched Sesshomaru cross the floor and stood before her. She lowered her arms when he stood but a breath away. Her head bowed unvolunteeringly, and it was brought up by a cupped hand from Sesshomaru. She felt his lips on hers, gently at first. Amaya did not fight it, which seemed to tell Sesshomaru that he could continue. Amaya felt Sesshomaru use his tongue to part her lips. She playfully fought back with her own.
Amaya moved her hands to Sesshomaru's horai and opened it up; Sesshomaru shed it completely. Amaya pulled away from the kiss and watched her hands glide over Sesshomaru's chest. Through her kimono, Amaya felt Sesshomaru untie her obi, which allowed the kimono to open freely. Amaya allowed it to slip from her shoulders and felt Sesshomaru put a hand to a breast. Her hands moved on their own accord to Sesshomaru's pants and began to undo the clasp thatheld them up. They dropped and Sesshomaru stepped out and broke away from Amaya. He swept her up bridal style and closed the gap between where they stood and Amaya's futon. Amaya did not fight it, she had waited for this for too long.
"Do you want me to continue," Sesshomaru asked, laying her down.
"I do."
Sesshomaru lightly moved a hand over Amaya's abdoment and slipt it between her legs. Amaya nearly gasped when she felt a finger messaging her. She turned her head towards Sesshomaru.
"Please, no mark."
If he heard, Amaya was not sure. His only reply was a kiss, his tongue snaking into her mouth. One of Amayas moved on its own and contacted Sesshomaru's phallus. She felt a moan escape his lips into her mouth when she began to stroke it.
0o
The next morning greeted the two tangled in the covers of Amaya's futon. Sesshomaru laid partially over Amaya, laying on his stomach. Amaya laid on her back, partially covered by Sesshomaru. The covers had been twisted on themselves and between the lovers' legs and bodies. Amaya was the first to wake. She saw Sesshomaru lseping as he was. She cared not if she gave herself first to Sesshomaru. Finally, Amaya moved to dress. On the sheet, Amaya saw a spot of red and wondered where it came from.
"Must you go," Amaya heard Sesshomaru ask.
"I must."
Amaya tied off her obi when Moriko walked in. Amaya did not know if Moriko knew what happened, but Amaya was grafeful Moriko kep quiet if she did. Amaya walked over and planted a kiss on Sesshomaru's forehead.
"I love you," Amaya whispered before she left with Moriko.
They kept quiet throughout the final preparations for travel. Only when the carriage past through the main gates did they speak.
"You do know what you did jepordiezed gaining a good mate," Moriko said.
"I do. And we are not telling Father. What happened lastnight is only between Sesshomaru and myself. And you are not to tell Father."