WARNING: there is a LEMON in this chapter. It might not be very good, and nondescript (?) but it is still there. After the line break, there are some serious WAFF going on, before the action takes place. You have been warned
Kagome smiled softly, feeling Sesshomaru slip behind her, his breath ghosting across her sensitive neck. She giggled as he wrapped a hand around her middle, pulling her closer. How had she gotten in this situation? She didn't quite remember, but she was far too happy in this moment to ruin it with words. They were in the garden, leaning against a large tree, the children running around them, playing a game of tag or catch or whatever struck their fancy. Her fingers tangled in his long hair, a small smile tilting her lips as she cocked her head back, leaning against him and looking up, her hands fixed in his tresses.
It had been a few weeks, and she was much better at this point. She had regained her strength, started her training, and was doing good to keep Sesshomaru's hands away from the more inappropriate places on her body. She grabbed a small leaf, pressing it under her nose, and grinning at the strange look he gave her.
This was nice. She could see doing this. Here, relaxing with Sesshomaru. The kids growing up around them. His small smile and bold advances. And the way that he looked at her sent pleasant warmth from her middle to the very tips of her fingers and toes. Why had she ever fought this? She sprawled next to him, basking in the sun and his warm embrace. She traced his ears, smiling as they twitched under her fingers.
Michio appeared before them, and bowed low in recognition of his lord. He sat back up, settling before the two of them.
"Sire, there is a bit of a problem on the Western shore. There seems to be a small insurgence of the Dragon demons."
Instantly, his face darkened. "What do you mean? Dragons have been banished from Japan all together. The last one was killed by my brother. The rest of their pathetic lot have either been bound in servitude or forced back to the mainland. What do you mean; there is a Dragon demon insurgence?" The normal cold tone that he used on servants was all the more chilling, his ire magnified by the ludicrous news.
"Milord, I am afraid that it is the truth. The villages along the coasts that make up our harbors that travel to the mainland have experienced much duress during the past couple of days. The messengers have just arrived."
Sesshomaru stood, flicking his hair exasperatedly over his shoulder, his eyes hard. He strode away from Kagome, who passed a worried glance over him before flicking a small, false smile up at Michio.
"I don't have a good feeling about this…" She whispered to herself, standing slowly as she pulled a stray blade of grass from her hair. Her wings fluttered delicately, letting on to how much Sesshomaru's ire affected her. Michio offered a small bow, smiling easily at her.
"Kagome-san, I assure you. Everything is well. Sesshomaru is, after all, our fearless and awesome ruler. All shall go perfectly" Kagome nodded absently, looking after him and not noticing the small smile that found his face.
"Everything shall go perfectly indeed."
Sesshomaru was not happy. How and the hell had they gotten past the seals put into place? On one was supposed to be able to get in or out. This little insurgence was going to be bad. At the very best, it was going to take months to smooth out. At worst, it could be a whole other goddamned Great War. He didn't want to think about the number of favors- favors he had saved for the future, seeing as nothing could ever be smooth for very long- he would have to call in. Not only that, but he would have to find someone to act as regent for him while he was out on the war front, because he couldn't very well leave the kingdom to run itself.
He had to spend hours and hours acting as the voice of reason, and then there were the demands for troops to be handled, the requests for the families who were hit the worst to deal with, and he still had to handle the rest of his nation. He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing softly.
Kagome came up behind him, wrapping her arms gently around his tense shoulders.
"Sesshomaru, is there any way that I can help?" He nodded, a small smile coming to his face. He showed her the book that lay before him, his arm sweeping over it in a mildly grand gesture.
"This is the ledger. I have to record all that I give out, all imports and exports, and anything that needs purchase." He continued on, explaining the ends and outs of running the expenses of the kingdom, balancing the budget, and handling any unexpected incidents that could cause more or less money flowing in the kingdom. She drank it all in, making mental notes of this and that, heeding his every word.
"When I go to war, I want you to handle this, Kagome. My mother can run the castle, I suppose, but she was never gifted in matters of tracking the money. You, however, seem competent enough to track all of this, handle requests, and my mother can do the rest. She knows the nuances well enough." He sighed, already fearing the headache that would soon come. He hated asking his mother for any favor, one this big could only spell more trouble.
Kagome nodded, looking shyly up at him. She held his hand gently in her own, running her thumb along the calluses that littered his.
"You could be gone for a long time, then?" She asked quietly, tracing the lines that went along his palm. He nodded, looking down at her. She blushed softly, looking up at him.
"I… I would like to give you something before you go, if you would be so kind to let me…" She trailed off, blushing brighter. He cocked his head to the side, standing when she tugged lightly on his arm. She made him leave his study, dragging him down the halls towards his bath. She drew him one, blushing softly as she asked the servants to allow her to take over. After his bath was drawn, he was naked, and safely settling in the depths of the pool, she sat back on her heels, shrugging out of the outer layers of her kimono. She was down to the last one, a light white cotton layer. The ties were a little frayed, and the tight knot gave her more than a little pause.
"Come, Kagome" He called, beckoning her closer to him. He reached up, easily slicing the tie that held the fabric closed, and his eyes dilated, her dusky caramel peaks pebbling easily under his intent stare.
She shrugged the fabric off, stepping easily into the warm water, trying to stamp down her blush. She grabbed the wash rag, soaping it up and gliding it along the slopes of muscle that surrounded his lithe form. They passed the time in the tub just like that, happy, relaxed, and subtly sexual.
After what seemed like a short while, Kagome lay in the gentle light from the candles that lit Sesshomaru's room. She shivered under his intense gaze, her heart beating frantically in her chest. His hands gently touched her stomach, her arms, her face. By the time his fingers finally found purchase on her aching nipples, she was almost inclined to sob in relief. His mouth found hers, his tongue gentle, inviting, playful. It was easy for her to forget that she was giving herself to him. It almost felt like a game.
That is, until his fingers burrowed into the folds between her legs. She bit her lip, attempting to hold still. After a few teasing touches, she opened her mouth in a silent moan, her legs falling open easily under his expert touch. She was prepared for him to take her, yes, but when his head lowered to the puffy, pink flesh between her legs, she couldn't help the keening moan and the dark blush that dusted her features and was traveling quickly down her chest. She trembled against his mouth, her arm thrown across her face as she attempted to hold still under the onslaught of new sensations. His tongue flicked out, and she screamed, her buckling hips held in place by the arm he had slung across her hips.
"Look, Kagome." He said, the warm breath against the tender, delicate flesh causing a new shudder to roll through her. She opened her eyes just in time to see his mouth wrap around the little nub of flesh. He sucked lightly at first, the pressure growing until she was arched towards his mouth, not sure if she should beg him to stop or beg him to never let go.
"Sesshomaru! Ugh- I can-can't breathe…!" She squirmed under his mouth, trying to focus on forcing air in and out of her lungs.
She snapped, letting herself go to the throes of pleasure, her eyes screwed shut as Sesshomaru kept her held on edge, forcing her to ride out her orgasm for as long as he could make it last. Finally, she slumped against the futon, drawing in ragged breaths while Sesshomaru grinned down at her, his fingers invading her virgin flesh. She had to admit, it felt nice. She felt his fingers stretch the tender skin, and although it was uncomfortable, she could bear it. She opened her legs wider, pulling him closer as he settled between them. He paused, aligning himself with her soft, pliant flesh.
"Kagome… You do not have to do this." He whispered against her skin, perfectly in control, and able to stop if need be. She smiled, cupping his face.
"I want to, Sesshomaru. I- I love you. And although it is very unlikely, I want to have this with you, in case anything happens. I want to have this." She grinned a little, rolling her hips against his. She bit her lip, prepared for the pain that she knew was to come.
He nodded, a single, solid thrust joining the two of them together. Kagome gasped, attempting to force the air that left her back into her lungs. He thrust again and again, slowly, carefully, watching her face for any sign of too much discomfort. He bowed his head, trying to ignore the scent of her virginal blood that flooded his senses. Eventually, her careful breathing was replaced with gasping moans as she writhed against him, her arms and legs drawing him as close as she could.
He closed his eyes, allowing his beast closer to the surface. He, in all of his manipulative tendencies, was basking in the warm glow of the affections of this little minx. He shuddered, watching as her back arched, thrusting her small breasts closer to him, the soft skin of her neck bared to his caresses. Together, they pushed Sesshomaru to go faster and harder and deeper, until he was all but slamming into her tight, quivering heat.
He kept going until her voice was raw and she was well beyond the point of being able to tumble over the precipice of pleasure, and instead she basked in the warmth of his caresses. He shuddered and leaned over her, panting softly as his thrusts became erratic and irregular, his teeth grit in what looked to almost be pain. She gasped softly, feeling a flooding of warmth spread throughout her core, a dull pain rippling through her as Sesshomaru grew within her. He rolled onto his side, pulling her with him as he drew the covers across their sweaty skin. He smiled into the small kiss he gave her, before pulling her closer.
"Sleep, Kagome." Eventually he heard the evening of her breath against his skin, and he allowed himself a genuine smile.
"I love you too, Kagome."