I do not own the rights to Inuyasha.
Their feet touched down on a beautiful balcony. The view was breathtaking — overlooking a lush mountain range with fog lazily drifting through the valleys. The rumble of a distant waterfall was barely audible to Kagome's ears, and a rolling field covered in flowers ranging from vibrant blues to soft purples and passionate reds to explosive yellows stretched out beneath the balcony. At least, it would have been breath taking, had Kagome's breath not already been taken away by the smoldering look in the demon lord's eyes. He hadn't looked away from her during their entire flight, and if Kagome could have torn her thoughts away from her desire for just one moment she would have wondered how he knew where he was going without looking.
Neither wished to step away from the other, but Kagome knew a bath was quite possibly what she needed now more than another fiery kiss with Sesshomaru — though she certainly wanted the latter.
Sesshomaru stepped away from the miko and, taking her by the hand, led her into the room connected to the balcony. The room was large and open. Doors to what she assumed was another balcony faced her from across the room. To her left were two giant double doors — closed and ornately decorated. To her right was a commanding bed covered in exotic furs, lush pillows, and countless other opulent fabrics. In one corner stood a fireplace and in another a large bureau. Everything had delicate carvings, gold and silver plating, and a tasteful scattering of gems.
Her eyes widened at the lush display before her and let out a small gasp. Sesshomaru looked down at her. "It pleases you?" He asked as he tightened his grip on her hand ever so slightly and used the other to tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear. "Oh...Sesshomaru, it's beautiful. More than beautiful really." Looking down at her clothing and then glancing over to his, Kagome began to feel out of place for the first time since she came in contact with the powerful demon five days before.
He sensed her distress and tilted her head back to meet his gaze. "Your scent is...hesitant and sad now. Do you not find it acceptable?"
If Kagome hadn't known better, she could have sworn that a tone of worry crept into his voice. She shook her head, "It's not that. It's more than acceptable. It's like a room from a dream. It's just that, well, look at me. I'm a mess. I feel like I'm just making this beautiful place ugly."
His forefinger slipped up from her chin and rested against her lips, silencing her. "This place was empty and cold until a few moments ago when you stepped into it. Your smile brought beauty into this place — not these objects. Do you understand?" Sesshomaru smelled her tears before he saw them. But her eyes were not sad, they were cushioned by her smile. She smiled and mouthed a small "yes" as he moved his fingers away from her mouth.
"Come. You have expressed an interest and desire in a bath, have you not? You will feel much better once you see yourself the way I already do." He led her by the hand to a smaller set of doors she hadn't noticed before. The doors opened on their own, almost out of reverence for Sesshomaru himself — though Kagome reasoned with herself that it must have been his magic — revealing a long staircase leading down. "What's down there?" Kagome asked hesitantly. Sesshomaru only smiled and pulled her by the hand. "Come and see."
The stairs seemed to go on forever — going further and deeper until Kagome realized that what she thought was just her ears ringing became a notable rumble, and moisture seemed to linger in the air. After a few more twists and turns and, of course, steps, Kagome's eyes widened again. Yet this time it wasn't a bedroom displayed before her, but a massive bathing area complete with its own waterfall.
The transition from man, or demon, made architecture flowed seamlessly into nature's own display. Vines cradled moss-covered stones, and the walls reached for the heavens — parallel with the natural wall of the waterfall. There was no ceiling, just open sky and water above with rainbows scattered through the air as the light and water caressed one another in perfect harmony. Rocks smoothed over the years by the water served as benches around the pool of rippling water.
As Kagome noticed the steam rising from the water, Sesshomaru leaned in to her ear and softly explained. "There is a giant furnace beneath the pool, it heats the water in the winter and during the cool nights. During the summer, the sun warms the water enough while still being refreshing." Kagome nodded in understanding while her eyes continued to take in the incredible room. Her eyes fell on a rock with white robes draped over it and a cabinet beside them. Sesshomaru followed her wandering eyes and drew her towards her newest discovery.
Opening the cabinet, he revealed shelf after shelf of oils, soaps, and scents. Kagome glanced at him, and, with a nod from Sesshomaru, she reached for a few different bottles — smelling each of them, keeping some, and putting others back. Once she was satisfied with her loot, she looked up at the demon lord and smiled. "I think this ought to do it!" She exclaimed with great satisfaction at her arm load of bathing goodies.
Sesshomaru nodded at her and carefully steered her towards the side of the pool. Taking her newfound objects from her, he set each one down with great care and purpose. "Is there anything else you need?" He asked. She flushed at the question. "Need? No, this is more than enough...but want…there is definitely something else I want." She didn't voice her thoughts, though Sesshomaru could easily read them on her face and smell the desire radiating from her small frame. He could also smell her hesitation and shyness and, not wanting to embarrass her, politely excused himself. "If you should think of anything, just call for me. I'll be able to hear you from my chambers." With that he turned and began he ascent up the long and winding staircase.
"Idiot! Why didn't you just say it? Well, self, because saying, 'Oh, Great and Powerful Lord Sesshomaru, I want you to pull me into the water and have your way with me — dirty girl that I am' doesn't seem like a very polite thing to say, now does it?" Kagome sighed at her own manners and set to removing what little clothing she had left from her rough Ogre encounter.
Her top came first, revealing a sweet and innocent white bra with a modest cream satin ribbon running through it. Next was her skirt. But it was here that Kagome found herself facing a thoroughly unexpected problem. Her button was stuck. No. It was more than stuck. It was entirely immovable. She tugged this way and that way; she pull up and down; she pleaded with and commanded her button to cooperate; she tried pulling the skirt up over her head, but her breasts got in the way; she tried to wiggled it down over her hips, but found her hips just a bit too large for the fastened skirt to slip over them; she searched for something, anything to cut herself out of her skirt. All to no avail.
Finally, swallowing her pride and modesty, she called out softly, "Umm...Sesshomaru? I...umm...I need your help." He was in front of her in less than a second. The rush of wind he brought with him reminded her that in her skirt-frustrations she hadn't thought to put her top back on. She tried to bring her hand up to cover her bra but met resistance. Sesshomaru's hand caught her own as he gently, but firmly, moved her arm back to her side and shook his head. Acting as though he had not just kept her from covering herself, he calmly asked, "You needed me for something?" The depth and sultry darkness in the question brought a coiling heat to her stomach.
Trying to push her embarrassment and arousal aside, Kagome straightened and met his eyes. "Yes. It's just that you see…" her embarrassment began to rise back up, "well...my skirt, you see the button, it's stuck and I couldn't get it off and there was nothing to cu…" Her words were cut short as his claws rid her of the tattered green garment with ease. She glanced down at her nearly naked form. The only things keeping all of her from Sesshomaru's heated eyes were her bra and equally innocent and sweet panties.
She should have been embarrassed. She should have tried to hide herself. She should have mumbled out a hurried "thanks!" and tried to get the powerful and sexy demon away from her. She should have done a lot of things, but it is oh-so-difficult to do what you should do when one of Lord Sesshomaru's hands is lingering on your hip, tracing gentle and electric circles on your hip bone with his thumb, while his other hand is tangled in your hair, pulling you closer to him.
For the second time that day, Kagome abandoned what she had been raised to do, and did what felt natural.
She closed the distance.