Purity
Disclaimer: Obviously, we all know the answer by now.
Fore note: I had kids everyone. Life got too hectic and I couldn't do what I enjoyed. Now that my kids (even my 6-week-old) go to bed and I'm not running around like a chicken with my head cut off- I'll try to update more. When I can. I make no promises when things will be released. Life has been stressful.
Last time:
"Now, when is the mating ritual to be completed?" She demanded. "It has to be before the new moon, otherwise you will die."
"What?" Kagome shouted. "I'd never heard of that before!"
"The next new moon is in a month."
"But…" Kagome stopped herself, turning away. "I need to be alone." She rushed from the room, eyes burning with unshed tears. The embarrassment from his mother trying to tell her about sex! And now this was forced upon her? Death if the mating ceremony wasn't completed? InuYasha had never said anything about that… but she had wanted that with him more than anything. She dropped to her knees in the garden, and began to sob.
"Kagome, do not cry." Sesshomaru murmured when he found her. "It is not ideal, but it must be done for you to live. You have a month to prepare."
"I don't love you." She sobbed out, wiping away tears that were replaced with new ones a moment later.
"I will not tolerate your tears. Cease." Sesshomaru growled, grabbing her arms and pulling her up. "If you would rather die, then do so; but do not do it when you can live a full life. This is not ideal for me either, but it has happened and it needs to be done. I do not know what this 'love' is, but it is not required for physical connection with females, nor should it be so with males."
"Sex without love is pointless." She snapped at him in anger. His hand brushed tears away, a semi-soft look crossing his face. She couldn't place the emotion, even give it a name- but he seemed pained.
"It is necessary Kagome." He wiped tears from her face before touching her lips. "Your lips are softer after you cry."
"How would you know that?" She asked.
"Let us go inside. It is almost time for the afternoon meal." He dodged the question, though his hand still lingered on her cheek. They stared at each other, a strange spark forming between them. "It is just because I have marked you. Do not think anything of it." He turned, walking to the palace. "Come, you must eat."
She shook her head. He was acting weird. One moment he was nice, the next he was cold. Shaking her head again, she followed after him.
This time:
Chapter Six
Closer
Her heart clenched in her chest when she watched the way Rin spoke to Sesshomaru. He listened to her, treating her as though every word she said mattered- if you counted him answering him with a bored expression treating her as though she mattered. His eyes contacted hers and she quickly looked away from him. She had been caught gawking at him AGAIN. She picked up some rice with her chopsticks, considering the possibility that she may die the next month if she didn't mate this demon.
What had caused him to mark her? Oh, yes, the fact that she was fertile AND untouched by another male. Kissing others had not counted apparently. She wondered about how many had not mated and died. How many had mated and died. Per some of the stories she had heard from Sango and Miroku, lots of youkai were attracted to humans for some reason or another and many didn't survive the mating ritual. How likely was it that she would, in fact, die? She didn't particularly want to die, but having sex and possibly dying, or dying a virgin? She would rather the latter. She didn't realize she was pushing her food around on her plate and jumped when she heard, "Kagome?"
"Yes, Rin? I'm sorry, I was lost in wonderland."
"What's wonderland?"
"My thoughts, sorry. It's not a place you can actually visit."
"I was just telling Sesshomaru-sama how nice it would be if he moved your rooms from the west wing to the east wing, where his are located."
"Maybe you two should just be sleeping together- you're going to be mated sooner rather than later." His mother chipped in. Kagome choked on her water, coughing hard. "My dear, it's not as though you'd rather just die, is it?"
"Mother." His voice sounded bored as he spoke. "That is a conversation between myself and the Miko."
"Oh you're such a stick in the mud Sesshomaru." She stood in a flourish. "And her name is Kagome. Women don't generally like being called things other than their names- human, hanyou, OR youkai." And off she went, exiting in a very dramatic fashion. Kagome was red in the face, from embarrassment or anger; she didn't know. Rin excused herself and left to go to finish her studies with Jaken.
"Kagome."
"Yes?"
"Look at me." He stood when she refused. He could smell her embarrassment, her confusion, and her anger. He walked towards her and reached out to touch her head.
"Don't touch me." She whispered softly. "This is the most embarrassing thing I have ever been through. To be openly marked by someone who despises my kind- let alone the fact that I am a Miko. The Shikon Miko at that. Let alone that everyone can smell on me that I am to become your mate- that I have no other option than to die if I do not. Or to die if I do." She shook her head, the kind of headshake you do when you've just given up. "Damned if I do, damned if I don't."
"If you do not wish to-"
"There isn't really an option, is there Sesshomaru?"
He paused, taken aback and angered by her petulant attitude for reasons he couldn't fathom. He looked at the raven black hair that he longed to touch. 'I long for nothing.' He thought, stepping away from her. "No." He turned and left the dining hall, angry at himself for wanting something he knew he should not want. Somehow, something had twisted his views. 'Rin.' He thought. His heart had softened after years of her following him around.
He could smell the salty water in the air as the screen was closed.
Rin sat with Jaken, hand propping up her chin. "Do you think they will eventually love each other?"
Jaken scoffed. "Lord Sesshomaru will never love that woman."
"I don't think you're right Jaken-sama." Rin murmured, looking towards the gardens where she saw her Lord walking- a pace he only walked when he was confused by something. 'In this case it would be someone.' She thought. "I think he is already starting to fall in love with Kagome. I wouldn't blame him either. Kagome is beautiful, powerful, and she is very nice."
"Lord Sesshomaru does not care for those things." Jaken paused. "I do not know if it would be possible. Demon mating rituals are intense and-" He stopped. Sesshomaru would not want him speaking of such things to the girl.
"And what?"
"She may die." He finished. She was old enough to know the ways of the world. Eleven years was a lifetime in their world- especially for a human. Rin's face dropped, eyes widening as she stared at her Lord in a new manner. She had no idea what mating meant- or what it could possibly mean for a woman. Jaken watched her with his frog-like eyes, suddenly feeling guilty. "But of course she won't. She is the Shikon Miko, after all. Now let's return to studying."
"Yes, Jaken-sama."
Sesshomaru, confused by what was starting to happen to him, walked slowly through the gardens. The gardens that were blooming with life- new bulbs filled spaces that were once bare. A rosebush, with a single blooming red rose caused him to stop and stare. Not yet in full bloom, but soon it would be. Much like Kagome. She would be blooming into a woman- not a child in a woman's body. He stopped, sniffing the air. She had left the dining hall and was outside. Closer than he expected. He walked towards where he smelled her, surprised to find her sitting on a stone bench near the little pond he used to play in as a child. She was speaking to herself. "What am I supposed to do? Mate and possibly die, or stay a virgin forever?" She muttered. "Well it'd only be until the un-mating killed me. What would Sango say?" She sighed lightly. "She'd tell me just to die instead of mating with a youkai such as him. Kouga would probably just kill me himself." She giggled lightly. "He'd probably try to swoop my away and make me his bride, knowing well I don't have such feelings for him." This made Sesshomaru angry. "And InuYasha…" She quickly wiped a tear from her face. "He probably does not care what has happened to me. I'm sure he thinks Sesshomaru has killed me by now."
Sesshomaru stepped forward. Kagome looked at him with wide eyes. "How much did you hear?"
"Hn."
"I thought we were past that by now."
"Hn."
"You're so frustrating!" She pointed her finger at him as she jumped up. She stormed towards him, and though his eyes never showed it he was surprised. She poked him in the chest. "I wish you would just answer me."
"Because you answer me?"
She was taken aback. "I do!"
"Except when I announced I had marked you and you started to sulk like a small child."
She bristled in anger. "I AM NO CHILD!" Miko energy exploded around her, and he stepped back. It didn't burn like he thought it would, though her eyes glowed with the intensity of a ray of sunlight.
"I did not say you were. I said you were sulking like one." He stepped closer to her. Surprise flashed across her face and she stepped back. He reached out a hand and grabbed her arm. The energy cut out like a fire getting extinguished. "You are a woman- or you soon will be one." He pulled her against himself. "The situation is not perfect, as you have stated there is no love between us; but you are a powerful Miko with potential if you would better learn to control the power you hold. Think of it as an arrangement- my protection for your help with Rin. She is to be a healer and I remember how you healed that idiot and your allies many times."
"But we have to mate."
"Only once."
She chewed her lip. He found himself wishing to be those teeth. She was clean, cleaner than most humans were. He found himself wondering where she was from again. She had avoided that question quite easily after all. He watched the debate she had in her eyes. 'Just say yes.' The thought crossed his mind before he tried to squash it; to no avail. 'She acts as though I am not the great and powerful Lord Sesshomaru.' He found himself annoyed. "Am I not good enough for you?" He stepped back from her, feeling a bit childish. "I am the most powerful youkai alive. I have been told many times how I have quite the admirable body."
She blushed, turning her face down. She cleared her throat. "You are beautiful, I'm just-" She looked at his face, watching the surprise flash through his eyes. "It's just scary thinking about it." Laughing nervously, she scratched her head. "I just thought it would be on my own timetable, not a youkai mating rituals." She licked her lips nervously and how he wanted 'To kiss those lips.' He growled internally. "If it is just once… I don't suppose that will be that bad." She pulled her arm from his grip. "Just give me a week to mentally prepare myself and… I will find you in your chambers."
He looked down upon her.
'Victory!' The demon inside him cheered. His eyes gleamed- hoping upon hope that once turned into more.
"One week."
He disappeared from her view.
What the hell was wrong with her? Kagome shook her head.
What the hell was wrong with him? He growled loudly, scaring birds away as he appeared in front of Jaken. "Move the Miko's things to the room beside mine." He ordered.
"Yes, my Lord." Jaken turned. "Lord Sesshomaru?"
"What is it, Jaken?"
"Rin was concerned that the Miko may die… and I told her there was no chance. Please, do not kill her when you mate her."
Sesshomaru's expression never changed as Jaken scuttled away to do his bidding, but his eyes twinkled. He hoped she would survive as well. He was unsure if once would be enough for the monster that lurked beneath the surface.
Once would have to be enough for the monster.
At least, that is what he told himself as he walked towards his study.
Just once.
Enjoyable? I hope so.
Ja
Jaime