From East to West Chapter 6

A bright white greeted me when I opened my eyes. I'm not dead, I thought dazedly. Pain shot up my side when I tried to sit up. I fell back with a groan. But I ought to be, that stab wound was definitely not light. Turning my head I closed my eyes again.

I opened them. Yes, that was most certainly Sesshomaru's head lying right next to mine. On further inspection I saw that he was asleep. I moved my left arm; it was mostly healed, and only a bruise remained to remind me that it had been broken. I brushed my fingers over his cheek and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Ignoring the little voice at the corner of my mind, whispering kiss him, kiss him I pushed his delicate silver bangs out of his eyes. I remembered that his eyes were a deep honey-gold color that turned a bright green in a vivid pool of scarlet when he was angry. Following the bridge of his nose up, my eyes fell upon the smooth deep-blue crescent moon that rested on his forehead. I traced that moon once, twice, then ran my palm over his forehead and down the side of his face that was pressed against the silken fabric of the bed sheets.

Even with all of my movement Sesshomaru hadn't awoken. And when his head rested on my hand he sighed and his left hand moved to grasp mine. The small voice spoke again and the Youkai part of me, though contained securely inside me, growled and exerted its influence upon me.

Under its guidance I shifted onto my side, wincing at the pain, so I was facing Sesshomaru. My face was only inches from his and as the annoying voice in my mind chanted kiss him I did just that.

His lips were warm and smooth, bittersweet with the taste of ancient blood. For only a moment I thought he might sleep through my kiss. Then his lips came to life. He was gentle, not pushing, but coaxing me into doing what he wanted me to do.

It seemed like an eternity before Sesshomaru lifted his lips away, the mischievous half-smile playing on his lips. I blinked in wonderment as I stared up at him. My position had changed, I was flat on my back under Sesshomaru, and I wasn't wearing much, just the gauzy bandages around my stomach.

His eyes were still dominated by gold and white, though red was advancing around the edges. I stretched my arms up grabbing for his haori. My fingers touched his jacket and his pupils shrank alarmingly. His fingers caressed the bottom edge of my ribcage and I gasped, pulling my hands back.

"No Sesshomaru."

He growled at me but stopped. A second time I reached for his haori. This time he was still as I worked to get it off of him, moving only to let me pull it away from his arms.

Every muscle in his chest tensed as I dragged his coat off his back and a purr resounded in his throat. I slid out from under him and off of the bed. When I had regained my feet I donned his haori and held it tight against my body. The hem only reached down to mid-thigh, but that was all I needed. Slowly the red bled out of his eyes and his pupils returned to a natural size. When they were exactly as they had been the last time I had seen them I spoke.

"I'm sorry, Sesshomaru-sama, I didn't mean to drive you crazy like that. You were just, I mean-"

Sesshomaru sat on the bed quietly with the same smile on his face.

"Yuri, it is all right. I got very little sleep last night."

"Oh. Wait, last night? How long was I out?"

Sesshomaru considered the question for a moment, staring at me with a disturbing intensity in his eyes. He got up and looked out the window. Finally he answered and the answer shocked me.

"Almost exactly twenty-four hours. A whole day. We found you at about an hour before sundown. You were almost mortally injured and the boys who claimed to have found you reeked of fear and lies. What did they do to you?"

Memories overwhelmed me of the pain I had been dealt by Futaru's gang. I couldn't tell him. Tears welled up and I remembered the persistent rhyme. I hadn't heard it since, since Sesshomaru came into my room that first day. Could he be?

I whispered:

"Love can be found,

Below tree,

Above ground.

And should love set you free,

The whole world shall be bound."

Sesshomaru's ears twitched.

"Yuri, what did you just say?"

"I don't know what it is, but I can't stop thinking about it."

The intense look returned, settling in his eyes. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me to him.

"Repeat it."

Taking a shaky breath I recited it quietly.

"Love can be found,

Below tree,

Above ground.

And should love set you free,

The whole world shall be bound."

"It can't be. What is yours?"

He seemed very confused about something and I hesitated wondering whether I should tell him or not.

"Tell me."

"But it's not right. The old lady didn't foretell my future!"

"A prophecy is never wrong. They are often misinterpreted, but they are never wrong. Now tell me."

I still hesitated. His eyes flashed and he hissed at me.

"Now!"

"Born upon the road is she,

Her twin is born as well.

Though as far apart

As east and west may be

They'll find each other's heart."

Sesshomaru's smile was huge as he spun me around in a circle. Dazed I whispered "so it wasn't wrong?" he held me close and kissed me soundly.

"No, your parents just didn't hear it. I'd love to love you now, but we must behave until after the marriage ceremonies are over."

A/N: Lol, talk about mood swings! Also, thanks for not killing me; it really means a lot (mostly that nobody knows where I live). Once again, my love goes out to SweetAnew, who has been so kind as to review all of the chapters I have posted.

As for everyone else, I love hearing from anyone who reads my stories. Really. Even if you didn't like it, tell me so (give me some points to improve upon too).

Until next time!