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Chapter 2

And So It Begins.
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The night was young and beautiful.

A full moon was lighting the vicinity and illuminating the figures surrounding the hall and outside garden. As soon as he stepped into the Alumni's Benefits Party I saw him, and was drawn to him. I have to admit, there was no one like him that I've ever seen before. Sure in this time and age, I've met plenty of demons, hanyous and the likes but him…there was something so regal about him and it made me notice him in a way that I couldn't comprehend.

I could tell he wasn't interested in being there, by the way he forced his 'smiles' and carried himself. He was being polite. I couldn't help but stare at him from the corner of my eyes, following his every movement. Watching him closely, wondering, plotting and planning for my chance to talk to him.

I had to get to know him at all costs.

I did not anticipate this I had thought tonight I would be here with my friends passing the time. Have a few drinks and getting excited over our very first year in college…I had not anticipated on meeting someone like him…well, at this point, we haven't 'met', more like I was eye-stalking him. I decided that tonight it was going to be one of those wonderful and unexpected nights.

As I lowered my glass of champagne, I smiled to myself picturing his eyes grazing over my body…feeling those lips on my skin. Without even having to be near or touching them , I could tell his lips were made for roaming over a woman's silky skin…more importantly, 'MY silky skin.' I looked up from my glass, trying to hide my obvious smile over nothing and that's when it happened.

Our eyes locked.

He was looking at me and I couldn't have been happier. I'd be lying if I said it didn't turn me on, even though it was only for a split second of him staring at me. My imagination was playing tricks on me because the next thing I knew, I imagined I was in front of him. Smiling my giddy smile, and I told him we could do anything he wanted.

If he wanted to dance, I'd dance with him.

If he wanted to talk, I'd talk to him.

And I wouldn't even lie to myself that I wanted to sleep with him. Virgin I may be, but if he wanted, I'd allow him to be my first.

NO, I wasn't a loose girl.

But watching him it seemed as though I've known him most of my life - like I was destined for him, and I was made for this great DaiYokai. It seemed as though he was calling to me and I wanted to be with him, that I belonged to him. What better way to lose your virginity than to the mortal as a God standing with such ease across the room? Dear Kamis above, I was drooling like a starving dog over a piece of steak.

I wondered if he was a senior at the college, perhaps a graduate student because even though it was my freshman year, I'd come to know quite a few people but I've never seen him. Obviously, I wasn't the only one who noticed him, which was not a surprise to me. Someone like him should have women lined up around the block…and I'm sure he had. I wondered how his long silver hair would feel through my fingers. Would it be as soft and silky as they looked? No, they must be like chinchilla, soft and warm and......I shuddered at the thought.

A second glance over to where he was standing I was shocked - to find that he was no longer there. A sudden twinge of jealousy flooded through my body as I imagined him going off with some other female, and being her lover.

In my mind I screamed "He's mine, belongs to me!" but alas, I chuckled at my silliness and more than obvious infatuation. Tired, I bid my friend good-night as I made my way through the crowd to the coat check to retrieve my peacoat.

I couldn't help but keep turning my head back to where he was standing with his buddies, to see if he was back. My disappointment was quickly diminished when my klutziness rammed my body into someone else, knocking the claim ticket out of my hand.

"Sorry," I mumbled not bothering to care whom I'd bumped into, as I squat down to retrieve my ticket. My eyebrows furrowed themselves together as the claim ticket was nowhere to be seen. I let out a frustrated sigh, assuming someone had kicked it elsewhere or perhaps stuck under someone's nasty soles.

"Looking for this?" A voice thick as molasses cascaded over me as I froze in place. I took a moment to recollect myself, making sure that I was confident and unflustered, because he had happened to pick up my ticket for me..

I stood turning to look in the direction of the voice.

I can't describe the disappointment surging within me when I saw that it had been Toto-Sai, Chancellor of the University holding my ticket. Could it have been my imagination or was his voice really that arousing?

I think I should stay away from bubbly alcohol.

"Yours?" he asked extending the ticket toward me.

I had gone too far with my obsession and now, my infatuation and imagination was playing against me.

Damn.

"Yes, thank you so much," I replied, taking the ticket from him with a bow. I handed the ticket to the girl behind the counter; I slid into my coat and began to make my way back toward my apartment.

The weather had turned with the season as a crisp cold wind slapped my face as soon as I exited the building.

"Brrrr…" I mumbled wrapping my arms about myself to keep the heat alive. I tread on disappointment lined my heavy steps as I walked myself home. Halfway to my apartment I let out a long sigh. I felt my legs going lazy on me and I dragged them along.

"Come on you lazy fuckers, almost there!" I scolded at them.

Exhausted I tilted my head back and stared at the beautiful full moon and the image of him flashed through my mind. The crescent moon on his forehead was a mark signifying that he was born of high pedigree. There was no way I was going to get near that Yokai, I surrendered. But hell, he's going to make one great fantasy! I smiled at the thought. Men like him were made for just that purpose.

Eye candy.

Fantasy slave.

I imagined him tied and bound so that I could do whatever I wanted with him, having my fill of such a delectable piece of ass, while I continued to trek my ass back home and entered my apartment.

"Yummy," I said as I turned off the light on my night stand for bed.

.......~......~........~.........~.........

"Coffee, I need coffee," I said softly to myself as I yawned.

For the Kami's love I haven't slept a wink last night. What was wrong with me? I tossed, I turned, dozed in and out but couldn't sleep. And images of him kept flashing through my mind, especially the way he looked up to look directly at me. Did he know I was watching him the whole time?

"The usual for me please," I requested handing the coffee owner the amount I've memorized over months of drinking the same thing each morning. She handed me the hot cup of dark liquid with a bright smile.

I was bleary as I grabbed a few bags of sugar and carried my coffee outside. I was yanking on the small bags of sugar they were especially stubborn to tear this morning. With a final hard yank, the bags ripped, but my hand jerked tossing the open cup of coffee forward and the sugar strewing everywhere.

An irritated growl got me frozen in place. "Oh no," I shook my head. I did not need this so early in the morning. It was bad enough that I was a clumsy fool but to spill coffee onto someone else was just plain embarrassing!! Ugh!! Can I please disperse into thin air now? I pleaded silently.

"Hn," I heard his annoyed sigh. I still remained frozen as I tried to find the nerve to face the person whom I've dumped hot coffee all over. And as I began to lift my eyelids, his hands reached to touch mine. I jumped for a second then realized that he was reaching for the napkins in my hand.

"Oh," I breathed finally rolling my heavy and stubborn eyelids.

And then my heart stopped.

It was him.

I hadn't realized that I was gawking at him until he told me that flies would fill my mouth if I didn't close it. Talk about embarrassing!! It seemed that there was a bad luck cloud raining over my head. You know the ones in the cartoon where the damn cloud would follow that unlucky person?

Yeah, that'd be me. Thank you very much...I sighed as the bad luck continued to pile on me. But I refused to be embarrassed any longer, nor was I going to be a blabbering fool in front of a man like him. So I cleared my throat and changed my tone.

"I'm sooo sorry," I began taking the napkins from his hand, and began wiping his shirt. He was startled at my sudden boldness. "My apartment is just right around the corner, I could have your shirt cleaned in a jiffy."

I looked up at him and held my smile. I blinked my eyes as he narrowed his curiously at me. He wanted to I could tell by the way he turned to look at me - told me that he wanted to get to know me.

"Please," I said as I fanned my hand to guide him toward my apartment. Just as I thought and suspected, he liked what he saw and he wanted me just as I wanted him. He followed me to my apartment.

"Here we are," I said swinging the door to my tiny apartment wide open.

I knew it was small, but it was what I could afford because I rather be alone than share with roommates. I continued inside, not bothering to wait for him. Without even looking, I could tell he was surveying my tiny apartment. Judging by the way he dressed, and the way he looked, not to mention the mark on his forehead giving away his status, I could tell that he was used to luxuries beyond imagination. My whole apartment was probably smaller than his shoe closet I mused.

Oh wells, broke is broke, I shrugged silently.

I walked into my kitchen to retrieve a washcloth and some stain removing detergent spray. He was still busy eyeing my apartment when I approached. Setting the items on the small round table I used for dinner I marched steadily toward the DaiYokai.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice fanned over my person making me shiver. He held onto my hand as I was reaching for the button on his shirt.

I kept my composure and confidence as I replied. "Well, I have to rectify my mistakes. And I can't do that while you have the shirt on" I said pushing my way past his grasp to undo his shirt. Okay, so what if I'm basically violating the man and his personal space.

He was lucky I hadn't raped him...yet. I snickered naughtily in my mind.

Anyway, I couldn't tell if he was watching me out of fascination or from utter disbelief thinking somehow I was some kind of mad young woman. Yeah I need a straight jacket I laughed in my mind. But before I could undo the second button, he reached for my hand again and stopped me.

"Miko," he called and I titled my head up at him. My brow rose, waiting for him to continue. "This Sesshomaru shall not strip in your apartment."

"But the stain…" I tried to protest sounding a little whinier than I had wanted or intended. At this point, it might have been beyond obvious that I was trying to get him naked. Well at least with the shirt anyway. Something is better than nothing I bargained with myself.

"This Sesshomaru has others at the office to change, it is not an issue." He answered still holding onto my wrist.

I felt the heat rushed through my being, flustered from my obvious crush on the man. Can we say Wyle E. Coyote and that damn woman in the red dress with those mutt dogs I used to watch on Saturday mornings?

Yeah, my tongue was rolling onto the floor like a red carpet.

Wait a minute.

If he had clothes at his office, what the hell did he follow me up here for?

It seems as though he read my mind, because the next thing he said shocked me but pleased me as well.

"I wanted to see what you were up to little Miko." He tilted my chin up so that he could stare deep into my eyes.

I felt my body weakened and my mind lost all of its will power to stay self-assured vanished. My knees shook. I tried to clear my throat but I couldn't find the strength to. All I could do was keep staring into those deep golden orbs of his, and prayed to the Kamis that he would kiss me.

If only for this one time and never again, I'd give my life for that. Hubba hubba hubba....mama mama mama....shit, am I drooling?

Ridiculous, I scolded myself. Since when did you become such a love-sick pup? My conscience yelled at me.

I gently yanked my wrist free from him, but I made no attempt to let him loose from my eyes' grasp.

"Well," I began.. "You still owe me a coffee and I really need a coffee this morning." I overly emphasized my words.

I watched as his lips curved slightly in what looked like an amused smile. He stared down at his stained white shirt that Kami knows how much he paid for, and then he chuckled. The way he stood towering over me, his eyes piercing called directly to my inner self. His eyes trailed down towards my groins and stirred things in me that I never knew existed or that I had.

Damn, I need to get laid - by him! Please do me!!!

"I owe... you coffee?" he queried, clearly amused of my declaration.

"Yes" I nodded my head for emphasis. "And I demanded that you take me to get a coffee, however, I am willing to take a rain check seeing that you're not quite dressed for the occasion." I nodded again this time at the large stain that I had made on his shirt that probably cost me my whole month's rent.

I could tell I had thrown him a curve ball. I had no idea what the hell I was doing, but it seemed whatever it was I was doing. Was nothing he'd ever experienced before. I bet his women never demand anything from him. I bet they threw rose petals wherever he stepped.

As they should I thought.

"Very well Miko. If you say so, then it is so. This Sesshomaru does not like to be indebted to anyone for anything, even if it is a mere cup of coffee." He reached in his pants to pull out his wallet.

Red alert! Red alert! My mind screamed and I had to act quickly.

"NO!" I said almost screaming.

He stopped short, trying to see how far I was going to push the situation. Hell, I took my chances. If the Kamis had tossed him into my lap then I'm going to keep him there damn-it!! He watched and waited as my brain raced with speed it's never known to come up with some witty comment.

"I don't want your money. I demand that you take me out for a cup of coffee, only then are we even."

He took a step toward me and I took two steps back. Never taking his eyes off me and instead he scanned his eyes over my body and once again the heat flooded through me. He lingered longer than necessary on my heaving breast then scanned his way down toward my abdomen. Where I had worn a shirt a little too short to reach the tip of my jeans thus, my lower abs were flashing out. What really got me jumping was when his gaze dropped lower and lingered between my thighs. Unconsciously I crossed my legs which made him shift his eyes and looked at me once more.

"You are treading on a thin ice, little Miko." He rasped. My lip shifted to one side as my brows furrowed in confusion. He swept me a seductive grin, dirty- almost, before he spoke. "A strange man in your apartment, while you're alone and defenseless, yet you continue to make demand of this Sesshomaru. Tell me, Miko, aren't you afraid of the things that this Sesshomaru could do to your person?" his eyes leered over my body again.

I swallowed. "How do you know it isn't what I want….wha…what you…" I swallowed the lump in my throat. By damn-it I wasn't going to let him get the best of me. "That it isn't what I want, the things you could 'do to my person'" I mocked his words.

He chucked again. "How do you know that you would enjoy the things I would do to you?"

"Because what you'd do to me, is nothing to the things that I would do to you!" I said without hesitation or thinking really.

He opened his mouth to retort but found no voice, and I grinned at my victory. Before I could fully enjoy my grin he found his lips on mine, pressing hard into me as he began to kiss me with fierce passion.

I won the battle.

We'll have to see about the war.

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The sound of her door bell ringing caught her attention and Rin closed the diary and set it on her nightstand. She rose from her bed where she'd laid comfortably reading and moved toward her closet to grab her jacket for the evening out. And taking one last glance of the words "Kagome's private thoughts" across the cover she scoffed to herself and closed the bedroom door behind her as she made her way toward the front for her night out with her friends.

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The city hung between night and day in dreaded heat, there were just too many bodies crowded into the popular lounge. It didn't matter that the lounge club wasn't even half full yet, as long as there were more than three or four bodies, the DaiYokai would feel cramped. He felt as if the people there were stepping all over each other, bumping elbows, flashing cameras and shouting their cheers. He ignored the crowd and the simmering heat, his attention focus on the man behind the long counter. Sesshomaru watched as the bartender poured him a stout whiskey, and passed over. Sipping on the potent brew, he was bolstered by the brief interruption.

"Sesshomaru, you know the point of us being out is so that you can relax. You're always so wound up!!" Ayame nudged his shoulder lightly.

He didn't budge, just sat there and stared at his drink. Over the years that passed, she'd calm down and mated another wolf demon by the name of Kinta. Ayame often shared stories of how Kinta would cater to her needs and allowed females into their bedroom; at the same time keeping it a safe secret from both families. Their charade of being a couple no longer existed and it was a relief for him.

"Well helllooo nurse!!" Ayame commented whistling toward the door.

Lost in his own thoughts, he smelt her before he saw her. He sighed when her scent became stronger. It was hard enough to be out with Ayame, but this...her....he didn't have time or the inclination to deal with.

Sesshomaru followed Ayame's gaze toward the front entrance. The little brunette thing that came through the door looked like a whore. She dressed like a whore in a much too short shirt and a too tight top with no bra. Her nipples were hard and visible through the thin fabric, makeup spackled on her face. She popped her gum, disinterested as the male friend that came with her was talking with the host. Then she stared straight at his face, gave him a measured look through half-lidded eyes and smiled.

Is this how she always pranced around?

He questioned, hot anger gripped him and Ayame felt the aura of it bursting through the air. She placed a friendly hand on his shoulder to steady his nerves. Why he was reacting that way she wondered, but decided she'd find out later. Right now, she decided that her efforts of trying to relax him had seem to have backfired and she needed to get him home.

Home where he would be alone in the confines of his own solitude. It seemed that it was the only thing that was left of him, an empty shell of what used to be a great DaiYokai; of someone she'd considered as her brother and love. And yet, it was the loss of the woman that he'd once cared for and loved that had him becoming the recluse robot he is now.

Sesshomaru, no one on this earth is worth loosing yourself the way you do.

No one.

Ayame thought solemnly.

Little did she know of how much the miko had meant to him.

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Thank you Nekomimimode for your beta-ing and brainstorming of this wonderful story in which we will build together. ~Ts