Summary: Kagome chooses a gift for Sesshoumaru, a gift with certain connotations… And Sesshoumaru responds in a very unexpected fashion.

AN: LJ Dokuga-Contest, Seven Treasures Challenge – Lapis Lazuli

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~ooO Lapis Lazuli: Beginning of More Ooo~

Kagome glanced at the maroon faux-suede covered box she held. Then up at a particular daiyoukai. Then down at the box. Should she or shouldn't she? Decisions, decisions!

She chewed on her lower lip and looked around. Sango had returned to her old village with Miroku and Kilala, to repair a crack in her hiraikotsu. Kaede had told her InuYasha had vanished that morning, chasing Kikyou's shikigami. Sesshoumaru had arrived just hours before Kagome had. Shippo and Rin were playing some game with Ah Uhn and Jaken was keeping a haphazard watch on them. Sesshoumaru… he was seated under a large tree, his one hand draped over his bent knee, clenching and unclenching rhythmically.

He was probably in a good mood with InuYasha gone. Screwing up her courage she walked towards the daiyoukai and knelt before him. She waited patiently until he deigned to open his eyes and look at her. When he did she held out the faux-suede box with both hands; a very similar manner as Rin, when she was presenting flowers to the inuyoukai.

He stared at her but she tried to not let it affect her too much. She wasn't entirely successful. A soft flush stained her cheeks and she couldn't quite control the twisting in her belly, the clenching between her legs.

Deftly he opened the box with one hand to reveal five flat, oval-shaped, gold-veined, polished blue stones set in a platinum mount. There were four loops on each setting (two on each side) with small links joining the loops on two adjacent stones together. At each end were hook-ring clasps that could join the ends together.

He gave her a quizzical look. "Miko, what is this?"

"It's a men's bracelet. The jeweller said it was designed to be easily taken apart and set in a new design if wanted… a pendant or necklace. I wasn't sure what you'd prefer so I bought a bracelet." He stared at her bemused. She lifted her chin and pulled her hands back so the box was entirely in his hand. "It is for you. A gift." He was silent. She clasped her hands together tightly in her lap, staring at her bare knees. "The pearl pendant you gave me is nearly priceless. This isn't even worth a fraction but please accept it."

He put the box down on the grass and removed the bracelet, allowing the links to flow between his fingers so the polished dark blue -almost indigo- stones with their gold veins glinted under the bright sun.

"Lapis lazuli," he remarked.

She nodded.

"Miko, what do you know of lapis lazuli?" he asked almost idly.

Kagome was prepared for this question (everyone had been most interested when Miroku had talked about agate and pearls, and Kagome about coral and pearls). She had done some research before returning through the well.

"They say it helps maintain the skeleton and keep the spirit free from negative emotions while increasing self-awareness, confidence, creativity, and expanding viewpoints. Some spiritualists believe it will help to cut through superficialities to acquire wisdom and truth."

Kagome stopped at that point. There was more about this particular gemstone that she wasn't quite comfortable sharing with him.

He raised one brow. "You are not telling me everything Miko." She mumbled something indistinct and refused to meet his eyes. "Then I will tell you what else lapis is known for." She looked up with wide doe brown eyes, lips parted in shock. The daiyoukai ignored her panicked expression and continued. "Lapis lazuli can bring harmony in relationships, enhance love and fidelity in a marriage. The Romans used lapis as an aphrodisiac." The soft blush on Kagome's cheeks turned darker. His voice became deeper, more intimate, almost teasing. "Tell me miko, did you know what Romans used lapis for?"

She couldn't look away, she felt trapped under his molten gaze. She wanted to say no but it would be a lie so she said nothing.

His lips curved in a faint satisfied smile. "You knew and you still gifted me with lapis lazuli."

Kagome was certain her cheeks were going to burst into fire. Just as she moved to scramble to her feet and away her wrist was manacled by a large strong hand, loosely enough to not hurt or scratch her.

Slowly, inexorably, he pulled her towards him. She placed her free hand on his thigh for balance as he dragged her close, close enough to see his eyes had no whites or irises per say, they were gold orbs with slit pupils like a cat. She was wise enough to not comment on that. Sesshoumaru hated the panther-youkai tribe. And then he was kissing her.

It was a simple press of his mouth on hers that turned into more when she gasped and parted her lips under his.

When he finally ended the kiss she was dazed and panting.

"This Sesshoumaru asks for your consent, to court you," he murmured.

The question was enough to snap her back to reality. She pulled away, creating some distance between them. "What? You're joking!" His expression was anything but. "You're joking right?" she asked hesitantly. His expression did not change. "I'm human!" she pointed out hurriedly.

He smiled slightly. "That fact is unmistakable to anyone," he responded placidly. "This one would not make such a request lightly, without careful consideration." Gold eyes pinned her down. "Do you accept?"

Kagome stared at the daiyoukai. There were so many reasons why she should say no. He was youkai she was human. He was a lord and she was a simple priestess. Her first love was the brother he hated, the brother she had promised to never leave… But hadn't InuYasha always left her? Even now he was chasing Kikyou leaving Kagome unprotected. He had not known Sesshoumaru would show up and he damn well knew Sango and Miroku were away and she was returning. Sure she was safe in Edo village, but couldn't he show some consideration planning his trysts? It was like he didn't care that she knew about his meetings. And Sesshoumaru was honourable. He might misdirect but he never spoke a lie. But did she really know he was serious about this courtship? It could be some sick way of hurting InuYasha, by 'taking' her.

As though he had read her mind he spoke. "This Sesshoumaru only has honourable intentions in requesting permission to court you, to persuade you."

It wasn't like he was demanding she mate with him right then and there, or claiming her as 'his woman' like Kouga. He was asking for the chance to get to know her, so she'd say yes later on. Kagome wasn't a vain girl but it was nice to be Asked. She never really had the chance to date given her current lifestyle (Hojo did not count), and InuYasha always took her for granted. He called her his shard detector, a poor substitute for Kikyou. Her temper flared at the old remembered slights. She met the daiyoukai's gold eyes with resolute brown eyes.

"You have it."

He smiled slowly and fiercely. It was an expression she had seen before, usually when he was about to rend an enemy to shreds. This one was slightly different and it made heat pool in her belly.

When he pulled her towards him for another kiss she actively cooperated, sliding onto his lap, straddling his hips. Her last coherent thought was to thank the kamis for Kikyou and Jaken, for keeping InuYasha and the children distracted.

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The End.

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AN: If you are wondering how Sesshoumaru knows about Romans, I refuse to believe intelligent long-lived beings, especially InuTaisho's son and heir, would not have travelled across the continents seeking knowledge and power in the course of their lifetime.

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