"Yes, M'lord?"
Sesshomaru was only a few steps ahead of Nazoki, as she curiously trailed behind him. When he turned to face her, the forest faded into a room with rich wooden paneling. The two stopped, neither speaking. If Sesshomaru was angry, he was doing a good job of hiding it. His regular deadpan expression made the vixen slightly uncomfortable, yet she remained in place. Taking a step towards Nazoki, the man pulled her against himself.
"You are not to speak in that ancient nonsense in my presence again."
Wow. All of this just to say that? He was really having fun with his illusions. Frowning up at Sesshomaru Nazoki slightly nodded. To be pulled into a random embrace twice in one night. Something strange was happening.
"Nor will you lead men into the woods alone."
Once again, the man received an odd nod. Ever so slowly, Nazoki's hands slid to his collar. She grasped the white fabric, donning an obvious look of confusion. The lord's intense gaze did not seem as though it would ever lessen. Patiently waiting for any other commands, Nazoki stared up at him.
"You belong to me, Sesshomaru. Do not so much as consider the offers or advances of your so-called suitors."
Now a slight scowl slipped across Nazoki's features. She released the man, and started to pull away.
"Excuse me? M'lord, you have no right to command me to abandon my cause. I shall do as I please, taking care not to impose upon you, of course. You have already used your requests. You should know that Kitsune will do nothing they wish not."
Though the vixen tried to move back, Sesshomaru's grip did not lessen. He barely allowed her a half-step, only to tug her against himself once more.
"Do as you are told." His smoldering tone lowered, holding a slight warning. The man's eyes squinted into a glare, and Nazoki huffed in frustration. Just because she accepted her position under him did not mean he could act a though she was his property. To demand that she practically gave up her entire purpose was ridiculous in itself. Pushing against the man, she tried to wiggle out of his arm, to no avail.
"And why should I obey such absurdity?"
The words caused an obvious spike of anger, and Sesshomaru released Nazoki. Scowling at the woman, he attempted to maintain his composure. How dare she call him absurd. Indirectly at that. If she wanted to say something, then she should just say it outright, instead of hinting at it with her words. When he let her go, she stumbled back a few steps before stopping, and crossing her arms.
"Because-" On the verge of snarling the words, the lord cut himself off, and sighed loudly. That answer was not the right one. No. "I, this Sesshomaru, said so. Do not defy me." Almost immediately, the illusion around them shattered. The two remained in the shadow of the forest; glaring at one another. Why was it that seventy percent of the time, if Sesshomaru spoke, he was commanding people, or insulting them? Consumed by the nonsensical tone of the conversation, Nazoki huffed once more. She placed her hands on her hips, and stared at the man who still held his icy demeanor. The lord remained in place, holding her gaze as well as all the right in the world.
"I will not abide by such a rule. You may have the right to control certain aspects, and lay claim to many things, but I am beyond that jurisdiction. If you expect me to follow you for decades, or centuries, without so much as attempting to accomplish my goals you are mistaken!"
In her rage, Nazoki flung her arm to the side as if it furthered her point. Truth be told, it did add emphasis, but that meant nothing to Sesshomaru. He watched her, knowing that she could not get away with taking such a tone with him. She had no right, or authority, to speak to him in that manner, and he would make that clear. Furthermore, her anger only served to heighten his own.
"To do nothing but have me trail behind you as some stray would; with no purpose, or importance. My emotions are not to be toyed with- you cannot simply command me to-! If I do not associate with others, then how should I choose a proper mate? To lay false title such as property on me... Of the few things we have done, not a single moment was intende-"
"Silence." She had spoken enough. Her implications were obvious, and the man knew exactly what she wanted. However, at a time like this, something like that could not be contemplated. She was still glaring at him, yet shifted her gaze. The air had grown unbearably thick, and it seemed that even the wind could not lift the heavy atmosphere. It became apparent that she intended to walk away from him. No, that was not acceptable. Before she could even turn to leave, Sesshomaru was in front of her, coldly eying the vixen. Surprise flickered throughout her, as the man gripped her hair.
He pulled her against himself, and yanked her hair back. In other words, he forced her to look straight up at him. Seconds passed, and it seemed as if she had stopped breathing. The lord leaned over her, and peered straight down at the vixen, allowing his hair to form a long, elegant wall around them.
"You will do as you are told." A flash of red in the lord's eyes revealed his agitation, and Nazoki silently stared up at the man. It was a warning, but with him so close... With his hair draped around her, it was hard to concentrate.
"Take such a tone with me once more, and you will be punished."
Though it may have been a threat, Sesshomaru's deep voice made it sound more... Well not scary. His eyes flashed again, and the vixen remained in place, only moving to cautiously place her hand on his chest. Even the flash of his eyes exited her. Eyes that were mere inches away.
"M- M'lord... Forgive me..."
Sesshomaru maintained his poised demeanor, yet it seemed that he was on the verge of dropping it. The eye contact unnerved Nazoki, and she desperately tried to look
elsewhere. The hand in her hair prevented her from peering at anything but Sesshomaru. "Unintended, how dare you. My actions are not empty. Everything this Sesshomaru does has purpose. It is not nothing." Another flash of red accompanied the man's words, and he growled. Whether it was directed at Nazoki was unknown, but she dared not move.
"You are too naive to pay attention to detail. One as young as yourself would not understand; foolish."
The lord was talking too much. This was abnormal, alarmingly so. It was the most Nazoki had ever heard him say, and she did not know where it was going. The urge to combust engulfed her, but she refrained herself. Most likely, the slightest thing could set Sesshomaru off at this point. She would cease moving, and endure his insults, or anything else he had in mind. If the man spoke she would definitely listen. Especially when he had her by the hair, and was barely containing his seething anger. In that situation, he could have every ounce of her attention. She would cling to his every word, and hope he was satisfied.
Releasing Nazoki, Sesshomaru was about to brush past her, but the hands on his chest inhibited him from doing so. She gazed up at him, not fully wanting the man to move.
"F- Forgive me... I had no right..."
Peering down at the vixen, Sesshomaru remained in place.
"You did not." He murmured, and she slowly offered a single nod.
"But, riddle me this; If it was not unintended, than what was it?" Her words caused a extended pause in the conversation, and Sesshomaru continued to stare down at her. Apparently, it was a difficult question to answer. The ring on the man's finger pulsed, and he contemplated his response. Though his thought process did not seem long to him, each second seemed to take an eternity for Nazoki. She gently raised a hand to the man's jaw, and he allowed her to softly slide said hand along his skin. It found its way to his hairline, and Nazoki's nails barely traced the area under his ear.
"M'lord?" She urged, and he slightly sighed in response.
"This Sesshomaru will not explain-" Before the man could complete his sentence, Nazoki pushed herself up to his lips. A split second of surprise crossed the man, yet he sank into the kiss nonetheless. The vixen's hand worked to deepen the kiss, yet Sesshomaru pulled back.
"Does this seem unintended to you? Appear to be nothing?" The man managed, before Nazoki pulled him back.
"No..." She murmured, as her fang scraped his lower lip. Wrapping his hand in her hair once more, the lord broke the contact.
"Then do not treat it as such." With that, Sesshomaru pushed past Nazoki. She could do nothing but watch as the man calmly walked away. Multiple questions flooded her mind, the main being what the meaning of the interaction was. To put it lightly, the lord seemed uninterested in her. He did not approach as any of the other suitors, nor did he compliment her. In all actuality, it seemed as if the man did not even look at her. For him to imply that their interactions meant more was confusing. If it was so, then why didn't he show it?
Raising a hand to her arm Nazoki froze. Her hand was met with nothing but skin. Regular skin, which was supposed to be covered with an important sleeve. A deep frown took her, and she started after Sesshomaru. He tricked her! While she was distracted, he knew she would not notice something so small! Increasing her pace, Nazoki grabbed Sesshomaru's sleeve.
"M'lord!"
The man peered at her over his shoulder, and she motioned to her arm. Slight amusement played on his features, and she knew he had indeed relieved her of the fabric. Pulling the man back to herself, Nazoki was stunned when he captured her lips. The man's hand raised to her jaw, and she was overwhelmed by his force. Walking Nazoki backwards, Sesshomaru weaved an illusion. He had waited long enough. It seemed as if each passing day brought more suitors, and he was being completely overlooked. Despite the fact that time and time again, she would depend on him. Whether it be a simple kiss, or confiding the details of her past- he was the one she turned to. And he was also the one she never considered.
Their surroundings faded into a field. The ground was covered in clusters of crimson amaryllis flowers. Nazoki took a second to gaze at the new scenery before Sesshomaru quickly stole her lips once more. The area was secluded by multiple thin trees, all slanted and braided into each other; forming a solid wall. A small spring was also nearby, filled with crystalline water.
Sesshomaru stopped pushing Nazoki back, and applied light pressure to Nazoki's shoulder, signaling for her to kneel. She did as instructed, and he the same, refusing to release her lips. The moment they were close enough to the ground, the man pushed her back. He worked himself between her legs, ignoring the light protesting tones she still managed.
"M'lord- Wh- Are you-"
Pulling back, Sesshomaru gazed down at the woman.
"Will you refuse me?" Not bothering to elaborate, the man studied her.
Sitting up, and forcing him to do so as well, Nazoki glanced over their new surroundings. She lightly held the lord's collar, taking in every ounce of detail he had created.
"You made all of this? For me?" The illusion had been elaborately weaved. Everything right down to the smell of the amaryllises beneath them was present. Sesshomaru did not answer her, simply studied her reaction. When she announced that she found it beautiful, a warm smile curled her lips. Placing his hand to her chin, Sesshomaru inched back towards her lips.
"Will you simply retrieve your sleeve, or is this satisfactory?"
The question caused Nazoki to gaze up at the man, obviously surprised.
"S- Satisfactory? I- You mean?"
Offering a slight nod, Sesshomaru remained in place waiting for her answer. Seconds passed, and instead of responding, Nazoki slowly closed the distance between their lips. Her grip on his clothes increased, and one of her arms wrapped around Sesshomaru's shoulders. The lord returned her gentle kiss, knowing it was her true answer.