Chapter Two:
It was late by the time he finally came home. The apartment was quiet and comforting. Inuyasha had long gone to sleep. It was what had taken him so long to return. He feared if any of her scent was on the hanyou, that he may have killed his own brother out of jealousy.
The woman had controlled his every thought. She had not wondered far from him. Still, as he had slowly drifted to sleep, she was in his dreams. Never had he dreamt before, let alone such a sweet dream as the one he had.
"Sesshomaru," her lovable touch caressed the markings on his face, "why are you out here by yourself?"
It was long past sunset. The purely dark sky shined with stars between the clouds. A storm would be approaching soon. They really should be heading back inside, but he didn't want to yet.
To have such a beautiful night like this one was unique and far to come. To have the stillness and peace that surrounded him would be hard to find again also. Yet…
Looking to the beauty that rested in his arms and lap now, he couldn't help the sense of pride and comfort that came with her presence. She was his goddess. She brought peace to him where he never thought there would ever be any.
"I am thinking about our life, my love." His voice was soft against her ear. The slightest shiver ran down her spine before she smiled up at him.
Taking his hand in hers, she drew it to her stomach. The slightest of a mound rested there. The scent of a pup inside of her was strong and perfect. "Our love is about to bring about a life, my love. I hope it is something you won't regret."
Embracing her close to him, he growled ever so slightly next to her ear. "I regret nothing I have ever done with you, Kagome. You are the only thing that I have ever done right in my life. I love you."
Smiling up at him, she kissed his cheek. The warmth of her lips and breath drifted over him as she whispered back into his ear, "and I love you, my mate."
Jumping up straight, his chest tightened. His groin hardened with the memory of her bearing his pup, even if it was just a dream. To think that she would be his mate and have his child was more than he could control right now.
It had seemed so real.
Sighing, Inuyasha's ruckus was hard to ignore. It was just past seven. What was the hanyou doing up so early? It usually would be another ten minutes before his brother would even start considering moving.
Growling low, he headed for the kitchen. The scent of food hit him hard as he turned the corner. Standing over the stove was none other than his brother. He never would have pegged the boy to be a chef.
"Oh. Hey, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha muttered as he grabbed two lunch boxes from a cabinet. "You hungry?"
"I am," his voice was a little rough from not being used yet. "But it does not look like you are preparing breakfast, brother."
Grinning, he dished the food equally into the boxes. "I got eggs and bacon on the stove too."
The scent of the food was potent and only served to make him more hungry. It also made him curious. "And who is the other box for?"
His curiosity strengthened with the blush from his brother. "It for a friend of mine. More than likely she's over slept again, and I didn't want to have burnt fish and soggy rice again."
"So, you also do not want her to have such a meal also?" Pride and satisfaction grew as the blush deepened.
He enjoyed picking on his brother. It had been a while since they had last seen each other. Their mothers had not liked each other, and for just cause. Inuyasha was younger than him, only by a few months. Their father had slept with both women before his death. They had grown up apart, but when they did see each other, there was no hatred.
Only if he knew who the woman his brother was cooking for. If he knew, the teasing would have stopped and the jealousy would have rose. "You woke up early to cook her a meal. Such a woman is being spoiled."
A bright smile came over his little brother. "If you knew her, Sesshomaru, you probably would spoil her too."
"I would spoil no woman," he scoffed. Mentally, he did not deny the fact that he would gladly spoil her if only she would let her be his.
Turning back to the stove, he made a plate of bacon and eggs for his brother. Sesshomaru's appetite was no different than his own. They both loved food, and they both could eat anything.
"I got to get going," he muttered as he placed both meals in a bag before grabbing his school bag too. "Knowing Kagome, she probably wont get up until school starts."
With that, the hanyou left, leaving a suddenly pissed off Sesshomaru in his wake.
—
Kagome tossed and turned in her bed. Something was off about her covers, but it was familiar too. Opening her eyes, she woke to see Inuyasha sitting on the edge with a glass of orange juice and a pop tart in hand.
"I got the runt moving," he stated with a pleased grin on his face. "Souta's taking him to school."
Taking a bite of the food, she turned to look at the alarm clock. It was just a little past seven thirty. If she got up now, she would have plenty of time to get to school. Normally she would wake up early to get the lunches together and get Shippo moving.
"I guess we're going to have to suffer through Miroku's cooking again."
His smile widened at that. "Nope. I made lunch."
She studied him for a second at that. Looking at the neat and unwrinkled clothes, to the bright smile on his face, she could have swore she saw someone complete different than the Inuyasha she knew. He woke up early enough to get completely dressed, make lunch, get down here to wake Shippo up, and wake her up too with breakfast. No, this was not the Inuyasha she knew.
She was, however, going to hang on to it as much as possible.
"What did you make?" She was finishing off the juice as his bright smile grew into a full blown grin.
"Soba and Onigiri."
Soba is a thick pasta dish that is made with two types of specific flour. Onigiri is one of her favorite things to eat, and he knew that. It was in short a rice ball, but it sometimes contains something in the center. Knowing him, and she knew him, he probably has some sort of fish in it.
"That sounds delicious." Her arms stretched back as she stood from the bed. Every muscle in her body ached badly. The dream she had had last night wasn't helping much either.
"Good," he blushed as the hem of her shirt lifted ever so slightly. "Now get dressed so we can go."
As he left the room, she did as he ordered. Her uniform was already laid out for her. Inuyasha probably got everything together as she slept. He was in a overly good mood this morning. Wonder what he's up to.
Dressing in a matter of a minute, she ran to the bathroom to finish up. It never took her long to get ready for school, so he wasn't waiting all that long. As she descended the stairs, he felt every muscle in his body tighten.
Brown eyes were glazed over with a look of peace and happiness. She was in the process of putting her long raven hair into a high loose ponytail. He loved it when she did. It made her look even cuter than it does down. Shapely hips swayed ever so slightly with every move she made.
She was a vixen and a goddess. She just didn't know it.
"So," her sweet voice smiled at him, "are we taking the car, or are we waiting for the others?"
"The car." Grabbing her bag along with his two, they headed out.
—
He couldn't suppress the growl that was rising inside of him. The gulls of his brother to think he could have her. The irritating scent of his brother was all over her. It mingled and mixed with hers. Anyone with demon senses could pick it up.
Knowing his brother, he probably meant it to. The hanyou could get so possessive, but over a woman?
Sharp claws pinched into his hand as his eyes lingered on her. She was so innocent. She probably had no idea what Inuyasha had done. She was only human and could not sense it.
Damn him.
Her laughter drifted to him. She was gorgeous. Every part of her made him warm and peaceful. It was his brother's scent that was overwhelming him with anger. Her sweet fragrance was tinted with him.
"Alright, class," the instructor's call broke his eyes from her but not his thoughts, however, "we are starting a new project today. Everyone pair up." Kagome and Sango were instantly next to each other. He found it slightly amusing until the teacher called to her. "Kagome, I would like you to work with Sesshomaru. Is that alright?"
Everything inside of him jumped and froze. He was going to work with her? When she smiled and nodded her agreement, he almost lost control. She was standing right beside him before he could even focus. Just like that, his brother's scent was ignored as her aroma engulfed him.
"Hello," she smiled. It reached her eyes completely. Taking the hand she had extended to him, a bolt of warmth coursed up his arm and spread. "I'm Kagome, Kagome Higurashi."
"Sesshomaru Mizuki."
She took a step back as he stood. He hadn't realized till just then how small she truly was. She had to be just a little over a foot shorter than himself. Subconsciously, he noted that her head would rest right against his chest if he pulled her to him. The urge to do so was overwhelming.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sesshomaru."
You have no idea just how much I wish to pleasure you, my Kagome. She was his angel. She just didn't know it yet.
Turning, he followed her as they headed towards the set of chairs she had just been at. There was now an open spot right next to her while the girl who had occupied it took his. Her two friends were there, partners apparently.
"Sesshomaru, this is Sango Ogawa and Miroku Tanaka. Sango, Miroku, this is Sesshomaru Mizuki." Her manners were perfect, and so were both her friend's as they bowed their heads respectfully and smiled.
"It is nice to meet you, Sesshomaru," Sango spoke before the boy agreed with her.
Nodding, they waited for the instructor's orders. It didn't take him long to get some of the information up on the board. "Alright, now. You will be working in a pair of two, no more and no less. Since we now have an even number class, there is no need for a troublesome trio," his words were directed right at the three near him with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"You will be doing a project on a historical land mark in Tokyo. Kagome," the teacher looked to her, "you may use your families shrine if you wish. The rest of you will have to find a different location."
He didn't miss the looks of disappointment on most of the male faces in the room.
"There will be a two page paper on the location and an oral and visual presentation. Your deadline is in two weeks. I hope that you will not procrastinate on this. It would be a shame to start off with a failing grade." With that, he motioned for everyone to start working.
Suddenly, a touch of fear hit him. It was quickly silenced as she brought her seat closer to his. If his brother's scent had been strong on her before, it was now her own heavenly perfume that covered and wrapped itself around him.
"I was thinking," she spoke.
Reaching for a pen and paper, she brought her chair just a little closer to him to write on his desk. If she had been any other, he would have growled until she pulled back. No, instead, he had to surpass the growl of approval at her close proximity and fight to keep from bringing her closer.
"If you don't mind using my families shrine as our project," waiting for him to object, she continued, "there's a sacred tree that is over a thousand years old, a well that has to be just as old and the remains of a dense forest just past that that we can use." She wrote all three locations down. Her handwriting was impressive: a design of slight curves that looked to decorate the page than inform him. "Do they sound good?"
Right then, the only thing he thought that sounded good was having her withering underneath him. Her raven black tresses spread on his pillow as he covered her creamy body with kisses. He wanted nothing more than to take her…to leave this hellhole and mate with her in his bed or hers.
He shuddered at the thought. To have her scent covering him as he took her. To be in her room, where she slept and lived, he moaned inwardly at the image.
Looking up, he noticed the harsh look in her gaze. She was angry at something. What had he done?
Standing, once soft brown eyes blazed with frustration. "I'll be right back," she muttered tightly before headed to the door. It was then that he spotted the wolf, Kouga, standing there. A bundle of flowers in his grasp and a big grin on his face.
I'll kill him.
—
Kagome all but screamed at him. The gulls of this man. "Kouga, what are you doing?"
They were out in the hallway, but she could sense the silence from the other side of the door. No matter how silent she would try to be, everyone could hear her. Sesshomaru no doubt would hear every word even if the commotion and conversations were still going on.
"I came to apologize for yesterday." His bright smiled softened. Pain and hurt rose to his eyes as her heart suddenly ached. "I had upset you, and I didn't mean to. All I want is to make you happy, Kagome. I'm so sorry."
It felt like a hand was gripping at her heart. She had been so cold to him. He did deserve it, but she couldn't deny how hard it probably was for him to come to her like this. He was apologizing for something that he thought was normal. To her it wasn't.
"I—I would like to treat you to lunch today, Kagome." Now that was a first. He was asking her. Normally he would have done it without even thinking on whether or not she wanted to.
Smiling softly, she thought back to Inuyasha's packed meal. "I can't today, Kouga." Before the hurt grew in his eyes, she quickly continued. "I can tomorrow, though."
Complete and utter joy lit his features as he handed her the flowers. "Than, its a date. You should get back to class now." Smiling, he headed those few doors down and disappeared into his class.
Looking to the flowers in her hands, the reality of what just happen sunk in deep. She had just agreed to go on a date with Kouga. She had willingly put herself into a problem she didn't want to be in. There was no way Kouga would take just one date and not believe they were more than just friends.
Growling in frustration, she turned to the door of the classroom. Walking inside, she was suddenly under the eyes of twenty-five boys and girls that she spent most of her week with. Some were shocked silent. Others were confused. Then, you had the few men who were just plain not happy.
One such man was her new partner. Looking into those amber eyes, she didn't miss the look of rage and jealousy before it was masked. Staring at him, all of her irritation leaked to the surface. There was no way in hell she could smile right now, not even if she wanted to.
She just doomed herself, and the seven hell's knew it. They had been looking for reasons to take her down. Well, she just bought herself a one way ticket in first class.
Heading back to her seat, she refused to look at him.
—
His body froze. She had just agreed to a date with the wolf. She had—he growled low in his chest. Claws pinched his hands. She is going to lunch with him tomorrow.
When the door opened and she stood standing there, she was beautiful. Even with the obvious irritation and anger, she was still a goddess. The thought only made him see red.
Brown eyes locked with his. He didn't miss the flinch in her stance and immediately sobered himself. He didn't want her to see how angry he was. She didn't need to have his feelings messing with her. Nor did he know if she would care, and rejection was not at the top of his list of things to do today.
A groan passed him as she came to sit back down. He loved the way her hips swayed. The raven black locks danced about her as if they were in an invisible breeze.
"Nice flowers," Sango muttered before taking them from her.
He watched as his goddess let out a sigh of relief before motioning a hand towards her friend. Sango stood and disposed of the multicolored bundle.
"You going to be okay?"
Waiting for a smile to grace her lips, he was disappointed when all she did was frown harder. "I'll live."
"You know he's going to tell him," Miroku commented. "They're in the same class together."
She knew. It was clear on her face. The unhappiness was almost choking. "Next time, Sango, will you slap me?"
Her friend smiled at that. "You got it, Kags."
"Alright." The paper and pen were back on his desk before he could blink. Her sweet scent was next to him immediately. "Do you have any ideas of what we could do?"
Oh, yes. He had plenty of ideas. Whether they were about their project was a different story.
After a while in silence, he noticed the look she was giving him out of the corner of her eye. It was a blank look, but it spoke volumes. "Are you going to say anything or just sit in silence?"
Did he truly want her upset at him? No. Did he want to disappoint her? No. Was he going to answer her then? With a sigh, he spoke, "we could do a commercial style presentation. I have a video camera we could use."
He didn't know what warmed first, his heart or his face, when she beamed the most beautiful smile at him. "I love that idea."
Taking the courage as it came, he continued to talk with her, the beauty before him. Her smile of excitement and enthusiasm brought him peace as the session went on.
—
Two sessions later, their last instructor motioned them out of the room. It was time for lunch. She was so hungry, and what Inuyasha had made seemed pretty tempting right now.
Standing up, her arms went over her head with a stretch. Every joint seemed to pop with it. Relaxing and comfortable, she went to turn to her new friend. "Hey, Sesshomaru…"
He wasn't there. The desk that she had turned to so often during the day was completely and suddenly empty. Wonder where he went to.
She didn't have enough time to ponder longer on it when her hanyou burst through the door. "Kagome, what the hell were you thinking?"
The floor shook with his steps before he made a final leap over the last few desk to land right in front of her. The slightest rumble of a growl was coming from him, and it soothed her. "I wasn't," was her only answer as she smiled and walked right around him.
"Hey, wait up, Kagome," Sango called as the two women headed out of the room.
Staring as Miroku, both boys bolted after them.
—
He stood just outside the door. Demonic hearing picked every sound that came. The scent of her drifted to him as her voice grew closer. If he closed his eyes, he could feel her pulse in his chest.
A deep growl came over him. The sound earned him a couple a scared looks as he motioned down the hall. He hadn't wanted to stay and watch her with his brother. The rise of jealousy was strong. As soon as they had been dismissed, he had run.
She was an angel to him. So often during the last couple of hours, she was there talking, joking, smiling at him. She made him smile, a thing that never happened before. She brought amusement to him and warmed his soul.
Another growl escaped him. She smiled and laughed with his brother too. The hanyou has know her for years. He has been a part of her life since childhood.
Claws pinched into flesh as he clenched his hand tight. It was suppose to relieve stress, and it normally worked. All it did now was remind him of beating his younger brother senseless.
Breaking into the courtyard, he headed right for the isolated bench he had found yesterday. It was nicely situated against a wall with dense trees on either side. From what he had seen, no one seemed to know it is there.
Taking his spot, he watched as her smiling face passed through the school doors. Sango was by her side. The two boys cautiously following behind them.
She smelled of jasmines and something…exotic. It was a natural fragrance that left him yearning. It was a feeling he was unfamiliar with. The urge to bury his nose into the crook of her neck was so foreign to him that it only strengthened the need more.
Never had a woman effected him so strongly. Never had he wanted someone as much as he wanted her. His body felt as though it would burn alive if it continued to go without her touch, scent…god, even the sight of her.
He could just look at her, and the new pain in his body would calm. She was his poison and his medicine. She was a goddess…one that could make his life feel like nothing with just a simple denial from her.
Yet…she has yet to do so. Had she not turned to talk to him when they had been dismissed. He hadn't missed the slight sadness in her eyes before he left the room.
Cursing himself, he had done so because of his brother. He didn't want to see her with the hanyou, even now it was a mute point anyway. The four of them were at one of the tables closer to him. Inuyasha's meal was strong and smelled delicious.
But, she was what he wanted to sense. Her scent was what he wanted at that moment, and he wanted his on her.
"Sesshomaru, right," a female youki came up to him.
She was a semi-tall thing with long orange hair. Cat, no doubt. Smirking inwardly, he glared at the demon before him. Don't cats know that dogs don't like them?
When he didn't respond, she continued. "I'm Henya," her smile showing wisps of white fangs. "Do you mind if I join you?"
He allowed her a moments pause, seeing if she was smart enough to leave. When she headed to sit next to him, he growled low. Even for a cat youki, it was clear he didn't want her here.
He watched as her eyes flashed to the table not far away. I look of irritation showing through. "I heard you were the great Lord Sesshomaru. Everyone's talking about you. They say you're heartless and cruel. I believe it."
He didn't know how to respond to that. He was silent and liked to keep to himself. Having others around to distract and bother him was not welcomed. He never wanted anyone around. He liked his privacy and solitude.
"And yet," she purred out through clenched teeth, "she manages to snare even you."
Knowing exactly who the she she was referring to was, he fought to suppress the urge to attack. "You speak of things I have no knowledge of nor care. Leave me be."
To his inward surprise, the youki did. Growling low, she turned on her heels and left. She also left him in a world of question.
Looking to the woman sitting with his brother, he couldn't stop the jealousy. He hated the feeling, but it was hopeless to fight. Inuyasha has known her longer, been friends with her longer. He could only hope that the hanyou doesn't mate with her before he could get to her.