Silver Moon : Chapter 11: Sleep Well My Bride
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Claimer: Sheba and Sasha are mine!
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Sunlight filled the dojo. Despite the winter weather the palace seemed a light with a spring-like cheer. Sheba looked up to see Sesshomaru enter the peaceful room. For once, he had been late. This was unlike him. He looked up at her, and for a moment he seemed to take in her appearance.
The sorceress' color had returned, she was slowly beginning to fill out her kimono again, and perhaps most interesting was that the almost constant flood of emotion had returned to those jade eyes which somehow alleviated the aching in his chest. However, the emotions seemed controlled… she stood and faced him with purpose spiraling in them. Yes, her health was finally improving. He slowly approached her, but was careful about his movements. He was well aware of her watchful eyes. He was in desperate need of sleep, and due to the pesting of a certain Ryu youkai he was also low on patience.
"Your lesson is canceled for today." Was his simple statement.
Sheba's mind began to spiral into a panic. 'No!' her mind screamed this was her best shot at him… she wouldn't have the guts to do this all over again… Sesshomaru turned to leave.
"Wait!" she rushed after him.
He turned just in time to feel her soft palms connect with his cheek and chest. Then, …nothing. He commanded his limbs to move, but they didn't respond. He looked down at the small woman, and snarled "What have you done!"
"I am getting answers." She stated simply before a familiar pulse connected them.
"You will not be able to hold me for long", he whispered menacingly.
Sheba knew this, and was already finding hard to combat the strength of his youkai.
"You are very right Sesshomaru-sama, but you would never answer me honestly otherwise." She whispered sadly, "Why did you bring me back?"
"I had to complete our contract. This Sesshomaru is not going to go against his word just because you are weak." He growled.
However, images of her death played between them. The sounds of his howls echoed in her mind. She gasped as tears pooled in her eyes; it hurt… so much… just the sound of it. Her chest tightened, and she struggled for breath.
"Sesshomaru…" she whispers.
"Stop!" he snarls, but still was unable to retaliate.
"What am I to you?" she asked her tears now trailing down her cheeks.
"Nothing", he whispered.
His mind reeled with memories that assault her mind:
Their kiss during her heat, was much more than just hormones… he had wanted that kiss, and had wanted it for a while. Then, she watched as he was told she was missing. Rin had told him… how she felt…
"You lie", tears make her voice hoarse as she watches the images, and feels wave after wave of emotion. "You lied. Why didn't you tell me? Is it because I'm not royalty? I know it could never be, but… you could have at least given us the closure."
"You did not show feelings for this Sesshomaru, what was I to think!" he roared.
"My heart has called for you since… since that night…" she fell to her own sobs, releasing him.
She expected to fall to the ground exhausted, but instead felt air passing around her. Then, heard the thunk of her body as it was slammed into one of the large support beams of the dojo. She would have voiced her protested, but her lips were crushed into a passionate kiss. Everything seemed to melt between them, the kiss was hungry, not in lust, but rather in a desperate search for reassurance. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he began to trail nips and kisses down her jaw, then searing his way down her neck. This may be all she ever had with him; her heart tightened at the thought, but she would enjoy what little she would receive. A low growl came from his chest as his fangs grazed over the junction of her neck and shoulder. Then, a sharp pain before the warm darkness claimed her.
…
Sesshomaru looked down at the woman that laid next to him, and his eyes turned to the deep wound on at the juncture of her neck and shoulder. The perfect imprint of his fangs was now deep in her delicate flesh; a mark that made her as his… she began to stir next to him.
Sheba opened her eyes to find herself in a dimly lit room, and in a very soft bed. Bed… she shot up and out of the bed, but only got one foot on the floor before the pain in her neck brought her to her knees.
Sesshomaru moved in front of her collapsed form, and lifted her to sit on the bed.
"Sesshomaru", Sheba looked up to try to see his face as memories cascaded into her now conscious mind. However, the angle only made her neck scream in protest, but before she could correct this herself a gentle hand directed her to look forward. Then, every hair on her body rose to attention as his tongue dragged over the wound that was the source of the pain. She held her breath as he laved the wound again, and then she began to feel a tingling sensation replace the pain.
"I have place a courting mark on you", he did not move from his position as he spoke, and continued his soothing of the wound as the words seeped into her mind.
"A courting mark… what is that?" she felt her mind began to feel fuzzy, "Why do I feel funny?"
"It is a mark that shows other males that you are courting this Sesshomaru to be his mate; if you see the Lord of the West fit as your mate." He spoke softly into her neck before pulling away to look her in the eyes.
"If you see me to be unfit or unfaithful you may refuse me, and the mark will disappear after moon cycle. If you chose to remain with me you will become my mate and Lady of the West."
"So, this is all in my hands?" Sheba turned, carefully, to see him nod. "And why do I feel funny?"
He frowned, "My venom, because of the mark it will not cause harm to you, but rather it provides something of a general andesitic. It may cause also cause a… light headed feeling."
"It makes me feel tipsy", she said mostly to herself, and then shifted to face him. "So, let me get this straight. We are courting, and if I don't think it will work out I am free to leave."
"Indeed", he nodded, watching her carefully.
"I am not royalty or youkai; is this even allowed… I mean you are, as much as I hate admitting it, the Lord of the West. Aren't there rules???" Sheba began to allow panic into her voice.
"I am Lord of the West, and I will choose who I please to spend my life with", he spoke as though he was announcing the weather.
'Life', Sheba thought, the seriousness of the situation dawning on her, 'He wants to spend his life with me…' Sheba could feel butterflies in her stomach, was this the youkai way of proposal? Then, she looked up sharply, "But I will not live as long as you. I don't even know how old you are now…"
"I have had 150 winters, and your life will be extended if you choose this Sesshomaru as your mate." He lifted a brow.
"So, your birthday is in the winter?" Sheba watched him nod. "What day is it?"
He smirked at her eagerness, "I was born on the morning of first snow that winter."
Sheba thought over it, concluding that it only made sense that they didn't use real dates, considering they were still using a moon cycle based calendar.
"Why does this matter?" he lifted a brow.
"Well, I have to know when to celebrate your birthday!" she frowned at him.
"Humans celebrate such trivial things?" he asked eyeing her.
"Yes, they mean a lot to us…" her voice became meek and she looked at her lap.
Sesshomaru thought for a moment before gently taking her chin, "When will we be celebrating your birthday?"
Sheba seemed to light up, "I will be 19 on January 13th."
He nodded, "Are there any other occasions I should be aware of?" he was pleased with her genuine reaction.
"Well, there is Christmas, Valentine's Day, and if we do become mated our anniversary." She began ticking the items off on her fingers.
"And how shall we celebrate these occasions?" he lifted a brow.
"Well, birthdays you give something nice to that person. Valentine's Day we will exchange gifts, and it is a romantic holiday so lots of people do something special with their spouse. Then, Christmas the whole family exchanges gifts… though it will just be us, unless we have children…" she was deep into her own thought.
Sesshomaru's ears perked at her mention of offspring, "How do you feel about pups?"
Sheba blinked, that was a loaded question if she had ever heard one. "I have always wanted children, but now I suppose I will be having pups. I don't know that I would want to have a child right away, and I'm not really sure if there are any differences between how humans and youkai carry their babies; plus, who knows how I will carry one…"
"So, you would like to bear pups for this Sesshomaru?" he locked eyes with her.
She blushed, thinking of how she would come to have the child, "As long as I won't have a litter or something."
Sesshomaru couldn't help, but chuckle. "I am afraid it doesn't work that way, you may have the ability to carry twins, but not a litter."
Sheba's blush depend, she knew she had to ask, "How soon would you want pups?"
"When you feel that you are ready to bear them."
"Well, say we did become mated, and we didn't think it would be best to have any so soon…" she blushed and looked away, "How would we prevent it? I mean in my time we have contraception, but I didn't think there was any here…" she began to babble.
He smirked at her innocence, "I know not of how humans do so, but powerful youkai can control their potency to prevent impurity in the blood lines due to a night of passion."
Sheba's expression turned curious, "How… no, wait, never mind; I think I will just leave that part to you…" she changed the subject, "Will our pups be treated badly because I am not youkai royalty?" her expression turned serious.
"No. Their mother is a prized breed, though they may be treated differently due to the power you will give them." He was surprised with these concerns.
"Will I be treated well?" she looked up at him through her lashes.
"If you are not, the offenders will be punished accordingly; though, other males may also be interested in you, and perhaps attempt to bully you into leaving me for them…"
"Really?" she frowned, "I don't think that will be an issue."
"Is that so? You are set on this Sesshomaru then?"
"That depends on many things, but I do believe that I could fall for you."
"Fall for me?"
"Fall in love with you. I would hope you would love me too if we are going to spend our lives together." She smiled up at him.
"This Sesshomaru has never experienced love before, but I do believe if anyone is capable of giving him such a thing it would be his bride." He kissed her hand.
"Bride…" she gasped. Sheba never thought she would be a bride.
"You are my bride until you become my mate", he hooked two fingers under her chin.
Sheba couldn't help herself she threw herself into his arms, locking her own around his neck.
Sesshomaru was unprepared for her outburst of affection, but he took the chance to hold her. He ran his claws through her auburn locks. He leaned down and nuzzled the mark.
This immediately sent a feeling of warmth through Sheba. Not the normal shivers, but warmth of safety and appreciation. She looked up at him; it had to do with the mark.
"As we bond the mark will strengthen, allowing us to be aware of each other's feelings. Something like what I experienced when I was drinking from you." He shifted her in his arms so that she was seated in his lap, and when she did not protest he draped and arm around her waist, his hand possessively resting on her hip.
"How will we bond?" she sighed leaning into his chest.
"I will prove myself through certain acts that will then allow us to bond." When he saw her questioning look he elaborated, "They will become progressively more intimate. We will start will meals, if I were a lesser youkai I would prove my worth by hunting, but because that is not necessary I will serve you your meals. Then, we will share a bed. Later, when you are comfortable I will assist in you grooming."
"So, you have to wait on me hand and foot to prove that you will be good to me?" she quirked a brow.
"That is one way of putting it, but for now you should rest. Would you like return to you bed or remain with me for the night?" he waited for her answer.
"Is it ok if I stay with you?" she asked, realizing that she had not been tired originally, but his venom was having a strong affect on her.
He did not answer, but he did pulled her to his chest as he laid down for the night. Sheba blushed as she cuddled the pillow. Sesshomaru wrapped a reassuring arm around her waist.
Sheba rolled over to face him, "So, you are not mad at me for using my abilities against you?"
"If you had not done such a good job this Sesshomaru would have reacted differently, but now this Sesshomaru has seen his mistake as well as your own. Perhaps we can take up where we were before our misunderstanding in your time, and continue in mine?" he watched her carefully.
"That would make me happy", she cuddled closer to him. This is not what she had planned, and she knew it was selfish on her part, but… her feelings for him would not go away. She would find a way to have both…
"Then, sleep well, my bride." He whispered, nuzzling his mark.
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Like it? There is MUCH more to come. And now most of my school work is done, I just have two finals left, then I have a whole two weeks to myself before my fall classes start… (depressing v.v). Please Read and Review!
~Suki