Chapter 2 Proposition

Sesshomaru sent for Kimere the second that Kohaku disappeared into their bathing chamber to rest and soak for a while, having thought of him immediately upon his little Mate's statement of wanting a child.

Kimere was a sweet little thing, his features delicate and beautiful, long blonde hair and leafy green eyes, and Unmated Submissive of his Court who Sesshomaru had known since the boy's birth fifty years ago.

He stood there, lost in thought on how to give his Mate what he needed without hurting anyone else in the process, not even noticing at first the approach of the one that he had sent for.

"..My Lord?.." Kimere asked softly, hesitantly. "You sent for me?.."

"Yes, Kimere, I did. Please, sit down. There is something that I wish to discuss with you."

Kimere nodded, his slow, awkward movements clearly nervous as he sat down in a nearby chair, Sesshomaru sitting down as well, fixing his piercing golden gaze on the boy across from him seriously.

"I wish to informally request that you serve as Carrier for my Mate and myself, to bear us a child. As per the rules of the court, you would have no contact with the babe after it's birth, so I do not ask this of you lightly."

Sesshomaru did not know exactly what reaction he had been expecting, but it certainly was not the one that he received at all.

Kimere gasped, his green eyes widening as he stood abruptly, stumbling back into the wooden chair, knocking it over and nearly falling himself as he lifted a shaking hand to his mouth, his expression shocked, as well as obviously pained at his request.

"My Lord! I- I can not! No! I am sorry, more sorry then you can possibly know, but no! What you ask of me- The sacrifice is too great! Oh Gods, if you only knew-" he stammered, his face crumpling visibly as he cut off his own words deliberately.

"If I only knew what, Kimere?" Sesshomaru inquired of him in a low, crooning voice, clearly trying to soothe his sudden agitation.

If anything his words appeared to make Kimere's agony worse, pain flowing deeper still beneath his skin.

"I can not be so exposed to you for that long.. What is required- and.. contact with your Mate.. Oh, I can not bear it, my Lord! 'Tis a deep agony in my heart to even think on it! To be so close, yet so far.. For so long I have served you, my Lord! Have- have.. loved you! I can do no more- Can give no more! You have already ruined me for other men, and now you wish my first born as well? How can you be so cruel as to not see?"

"Kimere, I- What are you saying?.." the tall, elegant demon-lord asked him, obviously bewildered and stunned, his golden eyes uncharacteristically wide with the emotions swirling throughout the room. "You- Love me?.. How can this be so? I have never encouraged such feelings.."

Kimere shook his fair-haired head, tears running down his cheeks now as he stood there, lips parted slightly, speaking softly as he wept; yet his words reassured Sesshomaru. "No, my Lord, it was not you, not of your doing. You need not do anything to cause my love for you but to be yourself. I have loved you always from my birth, when I first saw you as you were there to greet me with those eyes.. But I only recently.. Five years past now when I came into my maturity, did it become more then love for a lord from his servant. I know that five years, even ten or twenty, is as nothing to us demons, but such agony have I endured.. Knowing that you see me as one of your people, nothing more.."

"But that is not so, Kimere.." Sesshomaru said softly, gently, causing Kimere to raise his head up with hope in his beautiful green eyes. "Well it is true that I love only my Kohaku in that manner, I do hold very strong affection for you, as that of a father perhaps, or an uncle.."

Sesshomaru's voice faded to silence as the light in Kimere's loving, hopeful eyes flickered and then died, leaving them dull and lifeless, his tears failing now, drying on his creamy cheeks as though he felt nothing enough to even weep anymore.

The boy turned from him, uncaring, unhearing as he called to him repeatedly, heading blindly for the wrong door, Kimere stopped in his listless flight as Kohaku exited the bathing chamber, stopping in surprise at the sight of the slender demon male with eyes red from crying.

His ice-blue eyes flashed, though not with malice, having no reason ever to doubt his Mate's loyalty and love to him, inquiring as he dried his short, spiky white hair with a snowy towel, a second one fastened around his waist tightly for modesty. "Who is this, my Love?"

"Kohaku, this is Kimere," Sesshomaru explained cautiously, moving to slide his single arm around his little Mate's shoulders tenderly, pressing a brief kiss to his left temple lovingly. "I have known him since his birth, held him in my arms as a babe newly born. I had thought to have him act as our Carrier. But, I may have miscalculated. I am afraid that I have hurt him most grievously, though I swear that such was not my intent. I feel just horrible about this.."

Kohaku's eyes narrowed at that, focusing piercingly on that pale, deadened face, noticing the beauty there still in his green eyes, that shining golden hair, demanding of Sesshomaru almost harshly, "What have you done to him?.."

Sesshomaru was surprised by his tone, but he answered him quietly. "I did not realize that my request would wound him so.. Apparently he's been in love with me these past five years, though I did not know it. He shall not be left alone until he comes out of this. ..I greatly fear for his sanity."

"Leave us," Kohaku told him suddenly, firmly, after a few minutes tense silence.

"What?" Sesshomaru asked in shock, blinking his golden eyes slowly. "My love-"

"I said leave us, my heart," Kohaku repeated, though he softened his tone of voice as he stretched up on tiptoe to kiss his lips lightly, briefly. "I will take care of him."

"But-"

"Trust me.." he emphasized, pressing the fingers of his right hand gently to his Mate's parted lips. "I'll not hurt him, I swear it."

"Very well. I love you, Kohaku."

"I love you, too."

Kohaku took Kimere by the hand gently, the demon boy not reacting to his touch other then to follow after him obediently to the large bed in the middle of the room, going without protest when the slightly smaller male pushed him down onto his back and tucked him beneath the light-blue silken sheets tenderly.

His long, curly blonde hair splayed over the pillows, his beautiful leafy green eyes far too blank for Kohaku's peace of mind.

So he reached out a hand to him, guided by an unknown force, guilt absent as he pressed his warm fingers to the Submissive's groin through the blankets, stroking lightly along his limp length, trying to comfort him with his touch.

Kimere stirred slightly, a soft sound escaping his throat as his thighs twitched visibly, his length thickening in response as his legs spread just a bit, making it easier for Kohaku, back arching just as life returned to his eyes swiftly.

Kimere gasped with clear shock, though he was still too disorientated to pull back from his touch, his voice low and shaking as he asked quickly, "Wha-What are you doing?!"

"Shh.." Kohaku soothed him, his delicate fingers still moving over the other male's cock gently and with obvious care. "It's alright, Kimere. I'm Kohaku. But then, you probably already knew that. I am sorry that my Mate hurt you so. I sent him away, that I might comfort you."

Kimere turned his head away, baring the right side of his throat to his Lord's Mate and Consort instinctively as his leafy-green eyes filled with tears once more, though they did not fall. "Do you really think that sex can fix this hurt? The one man that I long for with everything in me, I can never have, and the lover that he chose instead of me tries to fix it? I mean no disrespect, but.. I hardly think that you taking my virginity is going to help matters here."

Kohaku's hand stilled as his icy-blue eyes widened visibly, inquiring of him in a gentle voice, "..Virgin?.."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Please, call me Kohaku."

"..Alright. Kohaku."

"..Kimere?"

"Yes?.."

"I would be honored if you would consider giving yourself to me. Consider baring my child. Our child."

"What?! But.. My- Our Lord Sesshomaru! You belong to him.."

Kohaku nodded, tilting his head slightly as if listening to someone in his mind, stating firmly, meeting his eyes seriously, "He agrees with me, Kimere. You can belong to us both, if you choose."

"I- I am.. not sure. This is a lot to.. process. May I be allowed time to think it over?.."

"Of course, Sweet Kimere. We shall leave it up to you. I will leave you for now. Sesshomaru's nephews and niece are at the gates, so my lord calls. Rest. Regain your footing and strength here and wait for our return."

"As you wish.."