Silver Moon: Chapter 24: Oops!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor do I make any monetary profit from this.

Claimer: Sheba and Sasha are mine!

…

Sesshomaru stood before the heavy wooden doors of the bathing chamber where he could feel his bride lay somewhere behind. His eyes bled over; once courting started his bride should bath with no one except himself. Yet, he could distantly hear the mumbled conversations within. He could feel his beast pulling free. Bathing without her intended was an insult. It insinuated that he was not performing his duties to her liking; had he not given her everything that she had asked. Ensured that her vermin infested pack was still alive! Or was that all she had wanted, and how she was out to wash away his claim… he snarled at the way his heart contorted painfully at the thought. He took a step forward unconcerned with his appearance, and threw the doors open.

…

Sheba laid next to the pool as Minda was explaining the basic ways inuyoukai went about courting. Kagome was blushing furiously when the steps for bonding came about.

The miko turned bashful eyes to her friend, "Sheba just how 'bonded' are you and Sesshomaru-sama?"

Sheba winked, "I don't kiss and tell. Trust me you will know when we are mated."

That was when they felt it, all of them. Sheba bore the brunt of the weight of the angry aura looming at the doors. There was no doubt it was Sesshomaru, and she had never felt him so angry in all her time with him. It was difficult to breath.

The doors flew open, and clung to their hinges. There stood a seething Daiyoukai. His strips jagged, his fangs in a piercing snarl, and his claws flexing at his sides.

"Sesshomaru what on earth is going on?" Sheba struggled to her feet.

…

Sesshomaru's beast was howling in his mind, but before their eyes was their bride. Dressed, and lounging near the pool. Concern and worry marring her lovely face. She could barely stand with his entire energy pressing into the room.

"You are in a bathing chamber without your groom!" It was a gruff snarl, but she appeared to understand.

The other women had ducked lower in the pool, but remained silent. He could feel Minda glaring his way.

His bride cocked her head in a way befitting a cub, "Spending time with the girls. Why are you so upset? I am not bathing with them."

"Your scent comes from a bath what would you have us think!" he boomed.

Sheba deadpanned, "That I like to look at naked women?"

The maids tittered, Sango felt the blood drain from her face, Minda sighed, and Kagome clamped a hand over her mouth to muffle the laugh from her lungs.

Sesshomaru did not react for a moment, but then a dark and predatory smirk turned his lips upward. The weight lifted from the room, but his appearance remained the same.

"You shall be punished for this infraction", his deep silken voice filled the room as he began to move to his bride.

Kagome couldn't look away from the red and teal eyes that she had seen before on her own lover, but the daiyoukai's beast appeared to be almost mischievous rather that the bloodlust that they all feared in Inuyasha.

"Sesshomaru you can't be serious?" Sheba put her hands defiantly on her hips, and leveled a glare at the inuyoukai.

For those observing the scene it was an outright display of the misunderstanding that could happen in courting. The old female youkai knew that the lord's display had been one of fear that perhaps Sheba was intent on abandoning him. For the humans it was obvious that Sheba did not fear Sesshomaru in even his most lethal state.

The Daiyoukai ignored the unwavering female, and in one swift movement he threw her over his shoulder. A firm arm anchored her legs to the front of his chest as he turned, and abruptly left the room.

Kagome in a panic jumped from the pool, and ran to the door. The maids were right behind her, and all three peaked around it to watch the couple make their way down the hall while holding their towels up.

"Sesshomaru put me down!" Sheba was struggling, and pitifully trying to free herself.

Sesshomaru only produced a sharp bark, and uncaring of this audience brought the same arm that was holding her to him down with a firm hand across her bottom. The sound of the strike and Sheba's keen cry echoed down the hall. Sheba stopped struggling only to rear back placing her hands on his lower back, and grumbled, "I hope you know you will pay for that dearly."

"I look forward to it", he growled up to her.

It was then that they rounded a corner and out of their audiences' sight.

…

Sango opened her mouth only to close it. She had not seen it, but had a good idea of what had happened from the sounds alone.

"Did he just spank Sheba?" Kagome gaped.

The two maids nodded in unison next to her.

"He would never actually hurt lady Sheba", Koto assured closing the doors though they no longer closed entirely.

"His beast was upset. Sheba stepped over a line that we all assumed was safe to cross. Then again, they are still finding their own way about courting, so miscommunications are only to be expected." Minda leaned back again.

"So, all of that was just him being upset", Sango asked.

Minda nodded, "He must have thought Sheba had bathed with us, and thus had planned on jilting him."

Kagome and Sango blanched, the thought of the mighty Daiyoukai being upset over anything was a foreign thought. Though, they had all just been privy to the same lord spanking their friend. The group finished their bathing, and made their way back to their given chambers. Minda left them, but the maids went about their duties to the guests.

The two human women were unsure of how to process the new information, and were silent for most of the day despite the males asking about Sheba's disappearance. Fortunately, Mai had spoken up, "Our lady Sheba's presence was required by the Lord of the West. It appears she will be in charge during his upcoming absence."

…

Sesshomaru slammed the door to their chambers behind him. He was relieved, but seething. How could she not understand his anger?

His bride had gone still moments ago. He could feel her hurt, embarrassment, but his beast would not let her go unpunished. He was back in control with the exception of a few streaks of red through his eyes. Lowering her from his shoulder he placed her to stand before him.

Sheba looked up at him with teary eyes, but refused to rub her backside despite the way it still stung. He had never actually raised a hand against her, and even though he had not done more than swat her it rattled her. She could still feel the iron like grip of his anger and pain through her heart.

"You shall never do such a thing again", he growled. However, the whimper that came as her response brought the tightness to his chest again. She refused to look at him, and he felt his heart sink. He could no longer feel anything from her. Their connection was completely shutting him out.

"Sheba!" he roared.

She cringed, but met his eyes again. They had bled over once more. She could feel nothing from him. The realization hit her, and she roughly reached out, and took hold of his collar, "Why? Why would you do that?" Her voice was a strangled cry.

His beast was torn between correcting their female, and the very real risk that their actions might have cost them that very same female.

"You intended to wash away this Sesshomaru's mark!" He could do nothing through his snarl.

"I did nothing wrong", she bit back her tears falling down her cheeks, "And you hit me!" Sheba turned from him now, and collapsed to the floor with her sobs.

Her words rang through his ears making his beast take over. Had he actually hurt her? He had only mildly disciplined her; such was natural when a pack member over stepped their place. He could not feel her emotions, but there was a sudden burning to his chest where the amulet she had given him lay beneath his clothes. He ignored it. His beast once again in control he knelt to her crumpled form.

A soothing rumble came from his chest, and she hiccupped. When he reached out to her she flinched, but made no move to stop him. His arms drew her into his lap. Her face buried itself in his chest her arms pinned to him with her blunt nails attempting to dig into his skin. The physical contact brought back a hint of their connection. Their female believed herself betrayed. One of his arms wrapped across her shoulder the long fingers running into her scalp. The other drew smooth motions across her back.

Her voice was barely a whisper, "Why?"

He bowed his head resting his nose in her neck; words failed him in this state. Action was all he had. He leaned back, and a whine escaped him at the look in her emerald eyes. He reached between them and brought her hands to either side of his face, and nuzzled her palm.

Sheba watched his actions through soaked lashes, and at his pleading look she allowed her power to venture out and connect them. She stared into his red eyes, and traced his torn stripes with her thumbs. She watched as a messenger appeared in his study, and presented a note. The short of it was that he was going to have to leave for a few days to check on one of the boarders to the north where odd activities had been detected. Then, she felt a soft pain in her stomach. He stood and began to search her out leaving the letter on his desk. Finally, his mind swirled with fear and anger as he realized where she was. Memories of his mother flitted across her vision, or rather memories of a small silver haired pup trying to claw through a massive wooden door that separated him from his mother.

She pulled away. "Sesshomaru I was not leaving you. I was not even bathing."

His eyes pleaded with hers, "Forgive me." His voice was strained.

Sheba nodded, and accepted his almost crushing embrace. His fangs found her mark, and she coohed to him softly. Their connection returned full force.

He rose from her, and pressed his forehead to hers. "Your groom had only meant to mildly discipline you for the infraction."

She took a shallow breath, "Swear to me you will never physically punish me for the rest of our lives."

Their breath mingled as he nodded, "You have this Sesshomaru's word."

"I hope the next time you feel compelled to discipline me you will think twice, and if after explaining to me what I have done I still am in the wrong you may find a more creative fashion to discipline me. Make sure to find one that does not involve spanking me in front of spectators." She chuckled toward the end.

"You shall not put yourself in incriminating situations", he commanded softly with closed eyes as he tried once more to reign in his beast.

His eyes widened as he felt her lips brush the underside of his jaw as she sighed softly, "Deal."

His beast would not let him free it graveled his deep voice, "Who has taught out bitch to apologize in the inu fashion?"

"Minda", she spoke against his skin as she continued to nuzzle his jaw. "She thought it would be best if I learn some inu customs. Now, I see how important that is." Sheba realized this was likely the answer to their problem. They needed to understand each other's customs and expectations better. The sound of his beast brought something out in her, and she now knew she had to explore this side if they were going to be happy.

He gazed down at her as he gently pried her back. "Our bitch has forgiven the action against her?"

Sheba nodded, "I don't want something as ridiculous as this to happen again. You have to tell me what you expect of me now, specifically."

He seemed to ponder her words for a moment as his eyes returned to their gold once more. He lifted her into his arms, and placed her on their bed. He turned, and retrieved the meal that had by now grown cold. He returned with it, and once again began to feed her within his arms.

Sheba ate gratefully not caring that the soup was cold, her mate rumbled behind her. Once she was finished she prompt found herself flipped onto her stomach with a familiar set of claws running up her legs. "Sesshomaru what are you doing?" she gasped as he shoved the length of her kimono up to her waist.

She reared up to her hands and knees to look back at him. The words died on her tongue. His eyes were glued to the still pink mark across one side of her bum. A soft whimper came from him before he spoke, "This Sesshomaru has injured you."

"I will be fine. It probably won't even bruise", she tried to reassure him.

His large hand swept over the flesh, and she did her best to swallow the cry but failed. She could feel his guilt wash over him. She gasped lightly in shock as she watched him nuzzled the wounded area. His hands held her hips firmly in place. She knew his actions were meant to be soothing, but his hands alone made her feel tingles all over. He stopped abruptly, and she sighed in relief as he pulled away. Until she felt his powerful fingers flex on her hips, and listened to him take a shaky breath behind her.

He had only been apologizing to his female when suddenly her scent changed. Now, suddenly he was hyper aware of her position, and his mouth watered as the scent of her excitement traveled to his nose. He instinctually bettered his grip on her bare hips relishing in the soft skin beneath his claws. This action only strengthened the spice to her scent with only the scant piece of lace covering her most intimate areas.

"Sheba", he ground out as one hand trailed down the back of one thigh only to run up the inner line of the other until his feather light touch pulled away at the trace of her lace underwear.

Sheba shivered, but looked back at him, "Sesshomaru?"

His eyes were closed, but he was taking deep breaths through his nose. His lips were parts as though he actually tasted her as he exhaled. The look of him alone made the hair on her arms rise. He did not move to open his eyes as he leaned forward caging her body with his own above her. His fangs grazed her ears, and instinctually she rolled her body up. His throaty growl rewarded her as her backend came in contact with his hips and his "gift" as they had previously called it. Her breath hitched, and heat coursed through her body.

"You are in the traditional position for inuyoukai to rut", his husky voice fell into her hazy mind.

…

Hello! I thought perhaps I should add some more steam to this chapter. I hope everyone likes it, and be ready for the next chapter because these two are about to become a little more bonded in the next chapter.

Love,

Suki