A/N: Thank you all for the reviews!!
So now that Naima has had a chance to talk with Naraku, will she be able to talk to Sesshoumaru?..
The next day, Tarei, Haikaru and I left to go to the hospital for Katsu had called and said that Li was going into labor. My sister and I knew that Li was more than likely giving her fiance (not to mention her doctor) hell right about now, for she didn't take pain with grace. Sure enough as we sat in the waiting room of the maternity ward, we could hear Li's screams of agony and many, many explitives. Tarei's golden brown skin was beginning to pale a little as she heard our sister's cries of pain. "Umm...I-I think I will be adopting," she said as she continued to stare down the hallway with wide eyes, cat ears twitching. I chuckled a little.
"The pain might not be as bad for you. Li just decided to have a natural child birth." My sister shook her head no.
"Sorry, but something that size coming out of something that small has to hurt. Why on earth would she want to have her baby naturally?" I chuckled again.
"Daddy told me that when Ayumi-san birthed you it was natural. I know for sure that I couldn't do that. I'll have to be drugged when I have a child." A small smirk soon appeared on the beautiful half demon's face.
"Oh yeah? And who would be the papa?" I rolled my eyes at her.
"Don't start."
"I'm serious. All I want to know is will my niece or nephew bear the mark of the spider or a crescent moon?"
"Hey Haikaru. Do you want me to read that book to you, sweetie?" I quickly asked my nephew, trying to change the subject.
"Okay Auntie Naima," he replied with a smile. He grabbed his Dr. Seuss book and climbed into my lap.
"You aren't slick Naima," Tarei said with a smirk, "answer my question woman."
"Do you like green egss and ham? I do not like them Sam-I-Am." I ignored my sister and read the book very loudly, hoping that she would drop it. Silly of me to think that she would.
"Booo! Dr. Seuss is whack. Come here Haikaru and I'll tell you an even better story."
"Okay Auntie 'Rei," the seven year old tiger demon said as he sold me out and sat in the enemy's lap. She gave me a huge, evil smile and mischevious look before she turned her golden eyes on our innocent nephew.
"Once upon a time, lonnng, long ago in a kingdom that happened to also be named Brooklyn, there lived a beautiful princess named...Amian. Amian lived at the top of a huge tower that was guarded by a huge dragon. The dragon's name was Single. 'Help me! Help me!' she would cry out every day, but nobody would come to rescue her. Until one day this strong, handsome but kind of arrogant prince named Sess...I mean...Sejiro, yeah, Sejiro came by and saw Amian trapped in the tower. 'I'll save you foxy mama!' Sejiro declared as he tried to fight Single and rescue the woman whom he had fallen in love with at first sight. Sejiro fought long and hard, but in the end, Single ended up winning."
"Oh no," Haikaru said, seeming to be entertained. I just rolled my eyes.
"Seeing that Sejiro couldn't defeat Single, Amian continued to cry out for help. Well, a few minutes later, a stron, handsome, and very stylish knight named...Nico, was riding by and heard Amian cries of desperation. And believe you me, Amian was desperate and lonely. She was so lonely that she had her minstrel, Luther, sing sad songs about her lonliness. Okay, so anyways, Nico saw Amian and declared that he would rescue the damsel in distress. Do you know what happened Haikaru?"
"What?"
"Nico killed Single AND Sejiro with his sorcery and rescued Amian. After she was saved, Princess Amian decided to take Nico as her husband and do you know what they did after that?"
"What?"
"Tareiii," I growled at my baby sister, giving her a very stern look. Tarei giggled as she finished her story.
"They ate lemons. Lots and lots of lemons. Nico even made them lemonade. In fact, Amian thought that Nico's lemonade was much better than Sejiro's."
"Okay! Story's over," I declared narrowing my eyes at my meddling kin, appalled by how she could put sexual undertones in a children's story. Tarei giggled and looked 'innocently' at me as Haikaru hopped off of her lap and went back to coloring in his coloring book.
"What Naima? You didn't like my fairy tale?"
"What do you think?"
"Awww pity. Maybe Prince Nico and Princess Amian should have eaten limes too." I leaned over and gave my perverted sister a huge smack on the arm. She only laughed.
"Hello beautiful ladies," I all of a sudden heard Katsu's voice say. I looked up to see that the tall, well built tiger demon had now entered the room. He looked very tired and drained, confirming our suspicions that Li had given him a hard time.
"Daddy!" Haikaru squealed as he ran over and hugged his father.
"Hi Katsu! Is my niece here?" Tarei asked, eyes full of excitement.
"Yeah, she is. You two can go see her now." That's all my sister needed to hear before she ran down the hallway toward Li's room. I followed her at a much more conservative pace, but my excitement was practically at the half demon's level when I saw the beautiful scene in the room. Li looked so happy as she held Lelia in her arms. I had never seen her so happy before.
"Aww," I cooed as I looked upon my niece, whose feature's strongly resembled her father's. She had his long black hair with the orange tips and his light brown eyes. She had her mother's nose and lips. Her skin was the median color between Katsu's rich cocoa brown skin and Li's very light brown skin. I couldn't see her claws for she had on baby mittens so she wouldn't scrath herself, but they were more than likely black. Lelia looked up at her mother with the biggest, brighest eyes I've ever seen and a small smile appeared on the newborn's soft face.
"Aww look at her," Tarei cooed, "she's the second cutest thing in this room." I looked up at my sister with a questioning look.
"Second?"
"Well, yeah. I mean nothing can surpass my cuteness." I rolled my eyes and turned back to my niece.
"Can I hold her?" I asked.
"Of course," Li replied. I had to stiffle a squeal as I took the beautiful little girl into my arms. Her eyes seemed a little confused when she saw that she wasn't in her mother's arms anymore.
"Hiiii precious," I said in a soft voice as I held her in my arms, "I'm your Auntie Naima and I love you already. You are soooo pretty and I'll bet you'll grow up to be just like your mama." I smiled as Lelia took one of my fingers into her small hand.
"Ooo no. Please don't say that," Tarei requested, "we only need one Li in the family."
"Keep on," Li warned. Hearing her mother's voice, Lelia began to whimper a little.
"Aww, she misses you already," I said as I gave the baby back to her mother. Almost instantly, the whimpers stopped.
"Sooo. What have you two been up to since I've been away?" Li asked as she rocked her child, whose eyes looked very heavy with sleep.
"Naraku came by yesterday," Tarei informed. Li turned to me and gave me an interested look.
"Oh really?" she asked in a calm tone. It was clear that her hormones were under control now, or she was just really happy.
"Yeah," I said.
"So what happened?"
"Nothing really. We just talked an that was all."
"He didn't go to Miami with Bankotsu and the others?" I shook my head no. Li nodded her head in reply.
"What did you two talk about?"
"Just about us and if we thought that we were meant to be or not. Then we slow danced and he kissed me."
"Oooh, someone has game," Tarei smiled, twirling her dark brown hair a little.
"Yeah, it was nice dancing with him...although his kiss felt very strange to me."
"What do you mean?" Li asked.
"Well, it felt like a goodbye kiss, but it can't be. He's not going anywhere. I-I don't really know what that strange feeling was."
"Maybe he just really missed you. You two haven't spoke in two weeks. Speaking of which, have you spoken to Sesshoumaru yet?"
"He still won't answer any of my calls."
"Well, go see him in person." I gave my elder sister an unsure look.
"I don't know Li. I don't think that Sesshoumaru wants to see me right now."
"Sesshoumaru misses you just as much as you miss him, but you know how he likes to hide his emotions and all. Naraku came to see you, so you should go to see him. If you really want to patch things up with Sesshoumaru, then you better make the first move. The person who caused the damage needs to be the one who fixes it. So go on and go see him."
"You mean now?"
"No time like the present."
"Are you sure that you don't need me to stay with you?"
"I'm fine mami. I have Katsu, Tarei, and Haikaru here with me. I'll be okay." I sighed deeply. I still felt a little apprehensiv about going to see Sesshoumaru when he won't even answer my calls, but Li was right. We really did need to talk about some things and if we are meant to be or not.
"Okay. I'll see you all tomorrow," I told my sisters before leaving the room and the hospital.
I shuffled very nervously outside of Sesshoumaru's apartment door as I waited for him to come answer. He was taking a very long time to come to the door. I began to get discouraged. Maybe he had caught my scent and decided to ignore me. He was more than likely still upset at me for kissing Naraku, not that I blame him. A few moments later, the brown door opened and it was none other than Jaken who answered. He stared up at me with a hard nosed glare. "Naima? What are you doing here?" he coldly asked. Jaken already didn't like me and I was sure that he absolutely hated me now for what I did to his idol.
"Listen Jaken, is Sesshoumaru home?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Please Jaken. I really need to talk to him."
"Hmph! You have a lot of nerve showing your face around here considering that you almost got it on with Lord Sesshoumaru's greatest football rival."
"Jaken, please. I already know that I was wrong, but can you please let me know if Sesshoumaru is in or not." A smirk then appeared on the little demon's face.
"No he isn't home. In fact, he at Oasis with Koga right now. He's probably looking at some beautiful, full demon woman who can easily replace you." I cocked my eyebrow a little at Jaken's response.
"Sesshoumaru? The Sesshoumaru I know, is at Oasis?"
"Yes. Jealous, Naima?" I smirked a little. I really wasn't jealous or upset about it at all. I was more shocked than anything. Sesshoumaru wasn't into strippers, so I couldn't believe that he actually went to Oasis. But the real question is...do I dare go there?
"Thanks Jaken," I said as I turned around and headed back out to my car in the parking lot.
Sesshoumaru's POV
"Yeaaaah dude this is awesome!" Koga exclaimed as he sat next to me in Oasis, a local strip club not far from the college. We were currently sitting at a table in front of a stage with Hiten and Koga's friend Muso watching a half naked demon woman swinging on a pole.
"Oh wow, look at her go," Hiten declared as he and Koga continued to throw singles on the stage. I, however, was uninterested in the lustful display. I always felt that strip clubs were very demeaning to women and only one step above prostitution. Koga always rebutted my opinion by saying that nobody forces them to strip and women can watch men strip too. He had always tried to get me to go to Oasis with him, saying that if I tried it, I might like it. Today, for some reason, I finally gave in and allowed my long time wolf demon friend to drag me here along with his friends. Muso seemed to take notice of my lack of interest of the barely dressed female and began a series of inquiries.
"What's wrong Sesshoumaru? You don't seem pleased with what you see," he said with a smirk.
"Its of no concern to you," I replied before taking a sip of beer. The cocky half demon chuckled a little.
"Why not Sess? Is it because it isn't Naima up there shaking what her mama gave her? I'm sure she's probably shaking it for Naraku." I didn't let my face show my annoyance as I continued to drink my bottle of beer. I didn't think it was possible, but Muso was even more cocky than his younger brother.
"Muso shut up dude," Koga demanded of his friend since elementary school, "you're always trying to start something. We all just want to have a good time tonight. I didn't come back from Miami to get into some drama. Geez."
"What?" Muso 'innocently' said, "I'm just making casual conversation with Sesshoumaru here. I'm just curious, that's all. I just wanted to know if he's upset that his woman may be giving another man a strip show."
"Pay him no mind Sesshoumaru," Hiten said with a smile, "he's just mad because Kikyo may be giving Suikotsu one."
"Oh!" Koga said laughing, "burn dude, burn!" He high-fived Hiten. Muso snarled at the two joking demons.
"But seriously Sesshoumaru, you need to relax and let go. Enjoy these women man and stop being such a saint about all of this," Hiten suggested. Koga's face then lit up.
"Hey Hiten, I know who can set him off," he declared. Hiten had a thoughtful expression before his eyes lit up as well.
"You mean..."
"Yes I do." Koga then left and went over to the other side of the room. When he returned, he had the hand of a demon female with dark brown eyes, dark purple hair, tan skin and well defined curves. "Honey, this is my friend Sesshoumaru. He just recently broke up with his girlfriend and he needs to be cheered up." Honey then turned to me and smiled.
"Aww, papi chulo. ¿Estás triste? Are you sad?" she asked with a heavy Spanish accent.
"I'm absolutley fine," I replied to the demon female.
"No he's not," Koga insisted, "give him the special treatment, Honey."
"Algo por tu amigo, Koga." Koga grinned from ear to ear.
"Oooo I love it when I don't know what you're saying," he declared as he handed the woman the money. She put it in her bra before sitting in my lap and moving really slow.
"What's wrong papi? You seem really stiff, and not in the good way." Honey asked as she continued her work.
"No offense but I'm not really into strippers."
"Oh? Well, how can Honey make you happy if you don't loosen up. You haven't even given me a chance." She got up and turned around to face me, dancing very slow in between my legs. "Eres muy caliente papi y tu novia es muy loca por saliendo." I gave her a confused look, not knowing what she had just said. She giggled a little and went up to my ear to translate.
"I said that you are very hot and your girlfriend is very crazy for leaving." Honey's voice was very sultry and seductive, yet not seductive enough to get me going. I still was very uninterested as she continued to give me a lap dance. Her motions that would turn on any other man didn't arouse me in the least bit. In fact, nothing about tonight interested me...until a very familiar scent began to filter through my nose.
Naima's POV
I felt very uneasy as I entered the doors of Oasis. The club was sufficiently dark, the only real lighting coming from the stages which were filled with women, stripping for their spectators. I scrunched my nose a little for the club reeked of liquor and cigar smoke. I didn't see how Koga came here all of the time with a nose as sensitive as his. I couldn't see how Sesshoumaru was in here now either. Ever so slowly, I began to make my way through the club to see if I could find Sesshoumaru. I still wasn't sure how he'd react to seeing me, especially since I'll probably be ruining his fun. Still, I had to see him. I wanted to talk to him so badly. I took very catious steps as I manuvered my way in the darkness, my demon vision not helping much. All of a sudden, I felt a tight grip around my arm. I gasped as I was jerked back until I was face to face with some strange demon male. "Hey there cutie. Where are you going?" he asked, blowing cigar smoke in my face. I coughed and swatted the smoke away.
"None of your business," I replied with furrowed eyebrows. He smirked even more.
"I don't think so chick. I can't help but notice what a nice ass you have." He pulled me flat against him and squeezed firmly on my hips. "Why don't you shake it for me, huh?"
"I'm not a damn stripper! Now let me go!" I snapped as I tried to wriggle free from his grasp.
"So? You could be. You just gotta believe in yourself." He gave my butt a slap. That's when he pissed me off.
"I said back up!" I snapped before kneeing him in the family jewels. He groaned as he bent over in pain
"Y-you bitch!" he hissed at me.
"You asshole," I hissed back before continuing on my way. I didn't get far before I felt another hand on my butt.
"My my, what soft hips you have," I heard a very familiar voice behind me say. I turned around and narrowed my eyes at him, already knowing who it was.
"Miroku! Stop it!" I demanded, swatting his hand away. His face twisted into a very shocked expression.
"Uh...Na-Naima?! W-What are you doing here?" he asked, sounding like a criminal who had been caugh red handed.
"I'm looking for Sesshoumaru. Does Sango know you're down here feeling on women's personal areas?"
"Uhhhhhhh..."
"And what is it with you men thinking that we like that? Huh? How would you like it if we did that to you?" I reached around and gave Miroku a hard pinch on his hips to make my point. He jumped a little and whimpered slightly. He then cleared his throat to regain composure.
"I see your point."
"Thank you. Now can you walk with me until I find Sesshoumaru? These men in here are damn vultures. And here I thought that you were bad." He chuckled a little and put an arm around my shoulder.
"Okay, no problem...juuuust as long as you don't tell Sango about this." I sighed but nodded my head. "Excellent," he said before escorting me through the club.
We didn't have a long walk before we came across Sesshoumaru. He had obviously caught my scent for he was standing and looking in my direction. I saw that he was with Koga, Hiten, and Muso and a very pretty stripper was around them too. "Naima?" he said when he saw me. I forced a smile for the nervous feeling in my stomach had returned.
"Umm...hey, Sesshoumaru."
"What are you doing here?" His voice was monotonic as usual, so I didn't know if he was happy to see me or not.
"I-I just want to talk to you...please."
"As you can see I'm kind of busy..."
"Please Sess. It won't take long. We really need to talk." He was silent for a few moments before nodding his head at me.
"Come," he simply said as he placed a hand on my back and walked with me to the outside of the club.
"So what is it that you want Naima?" Sesshoumaru asked as we stood out in the club's parking lot. I sighed deeply before I began to speak.
"I...I just want to know how you've been doing. Like...how do you feel about me right now?" He stared at me in silence as the spring breeze whipped around us.
"I still love you Naima. You know that. My feelings for you are still the same. The question is, are your feelings for me still the same?"
"Yes. I still love you very much Sesshoumaru."
"But..." I looked at the ground very nervously.
"But...I still have feelings for Naraku too." Sesshoumaru sighed, a little annoyance trapped in his golden eyes.
"Why do you waste my time with this nonesense?" he asked as he turned around and began to walk away.
"Sess! Wait a minute!" I cried stopping him. "I love you sooo much and I really miss you baby. Can't we please talk about things?"
"I told you two weeks ago that we can only talk about making things work when you can say without a doubt that you don't love Naraku anymore. So what's left to talk about?"
"I just wanted to know if you missed me and if we still even had a chance of making it work between us. That's all I came here today for. I know that I took you for granted and I'm so deeply sorry. I don't know why I can't just get my act together and just finally decide who I want to spend the rest of my life with, but you got to believe me when I say that I don't mean to cause you all of this pain. I love you Sesshoumaru, I really do. And...I miss you." He turned around and began to slowly walk back over to me.
"What is it about that half demon that has you questioning your love for me?"
"What is it about you that has me questioning my love for him?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, obviously not liking my response. I sighed deeply, fighting back tears. "Each of you have a special bond with me. It can't be compared because the love is so different. Its hard to explain. Really. I don't know who I want. I'm not trying to be selfish, but...I don't know. I'll just go and let you go have your fun tonight. I'm sorry I bothered you." I turned around feeling defeated and began to walk away, but Sesshoumaru grabbed my arm to stop me. He closed the distance and held my hands in his.
"I did miss you. I still love you. But I can't allow myself to be hurt by someone who's road isn't clear at this point. I think its best if we keep our distance from each other..."
"Sess, no," I sobbed, the tears beginning to leak out.
"We have no choice Naima. If our love is strong then it will survive this rough patch. If its not, then I think that we should find out now before we try to repair something that isn't worth saving."
"Sess how could you say that?"
"We have to be real about this Naima. Its not fair to me or to you if we continue to try to fix something that was never meant to be. I hope it is, because I love you so much. But..." I didn't let Sesshoumaru continue as I cut him off with a kiss. I missed kissing Sesshoumaru and I didn't want to hear anything about us not working out at the moment. Sesshoumaru kissed back, although it was lukewarm compared to mine. I could tell that a defensive wall was put up around him. A wall that I caused myself. I broke the kiss and looked up at him. His normally stoic eyes had a glint of sadness within them. I sighed deeply and wiped my eyes. We were both quiet as we looked at each other. "Two weeks isn't enough time Naima. For you or for me. We should wait a little while longer before we talk about this again." I slowly nodded my head. "I'll walk you to your car." He placed a hand on my back and escorted me to my car. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek before opening the door for me. "See you at school Monday," he said after closing my door for me, "I sincerely hope that Myoga-sama let's you stay." I raised my eyebrows a little.
"How did you kno.."
"Just because we haven't spoken doesn't mean that I'm not checking up on you." I smiled a little and nodded my head.
"Alright. I love you Sesshoumaru."
"I love you too Naima."
A/N: Aww, he still loves her
