A/N: Changes made 6.3.17…
Imperium (Control)
Kagome wiped the sweat from her brow as she took in deep breaths of air.
"Again." Came the hard voice of the silver haired inu standing across from her with his fists up and one leg in front of the other.
The young lawyer gathered her composure and studied her opponent carefully before diving head first into her attack.
Sesshoumaru prepared to deflect her but before he could she ducked to slide between his legs and quickly hoisted herself up using her arms and allowing her legs to wrap around his shoulders and under his arms.
Once locked she shifted her weight to bring him down.
Caught off guard by the attack, the inu youkai suppressed his shock as he attempted to pry the raven haired onna's legs from his person.
With a flare of his youki he accomplished his task and quickly took the dominating position by mounting the petite woman.
Kagome shifted the position so that she was on guard. Resting her head to the floor she locked her ankles behind the small of his waist and attempted to extend her legs to constrict his breathing.
"You'll have to do better than that miko." Sesshoumaru taunted.
"Is that so?" Kagome teased back. Shifting her form, she leaned her head up and kissed him soundly on the lips.
She used his hesitation to break his mount and as fast as she could before he could counter she switched their positions consequently locking his arms with her legs and forcing his head into his chest in an uncomfortable position.
The large inu tapped the floor beneath him in submission and Kagome released her hold with a laugh.
"You fight dirty onna." Sesshoumaru spoke with shallow breaths while shifting himself into an upright position.
"All's fair in love and war." She smirked while climbing over him to rest in his lap.
"Is it?" He queried while adjusting their positions to place her gently on her back. He gazed into her ocean colored irises with appreciation before leaning down to capture the sweaty flesh of her shoulder between his lips. He darted his pink appendage to capture the salty wetness on his taste buds.
"Who's playing dirty now?" Kagome moaned out.
"Hn." Was his short response as he allowed his hand to trail underneath her damp shirt and up her torso. His fingers lingered underneath her ribcage before tickling the skin there and cupping one of her firm mounds with his clawed hand.
Pushing her sports bra from its place he tweaked her nipple until it became firm under his touch. Once satisfied, he moved his mouth's concentration from her shoulder to her taut peek and suckled until he was pleased with her mewls of pleasure.
Paying the same attention to its twin, he then adjusted their positions so that he could remove her skin tight leggings while taking her cotton panties with them.
Her breath caught in her throat when her steaming flesh made contact with the cool wood of the dojo floor.
Her hands impatiently roved the hard muscles of his chest and shoulders when he leaned over her to take in her nude form.
Divesting himself of his shorts, he came upon her again.
"Did you lock the door?" She asked.
"This is my personal dojo. No one comes here unannounced…. Besides, there's a bit of a thrill in almost getting caught no?" He grinned into her ear lustfully.
Their lips met in a passionate kiss. Each fought for dominance with their tongues, battling in a dance similar to the one they had just completed with their bodies.
Sesshoumaru moved his hips and used is free hand to guide his massive erection to her slick folds. She gasped at the feel of his turgid flesh teasing her nether regions.
Once his manhood was coated with her essence he surged forward, burying himself deep within her depths.
Gritting his teeth, he set a steady pace inside her and allowed himself to become lost in her sweetness.
"Ung… Sesshou." She moaned in pleasure.
Pushing against his chest she forced him on his back and began rising and falling on his shaft. She leaned down to make contact with his lips and when the sensitive flesh of her nipples made contact with his chest she moaned passionately into his mouth.
Breaking the kiss she placed her hands upon his chest to keep her balance and rode his dick until she felt her peek approach.
"It feels so good Sess."
"Hn." He grunted while wraping his hands around her waist to guide her hips.
She leaned back and cupped her breasts as she allowed him to govern their movements.
"I'm gonna cum soon…. Kami…. Don't stop." She breathed.
He increased his thrusts and brought her hips down hard as her dampness coated his thighs and leaked onto the floor beneath them.
"Fuck onna! So- tight-" He gritted through clenched teeth.
"I'm cumming!" She screamed. Upon the fluttering of her walls he came undone. He quickly removed himself from her moist garden and allowed his seed to coat the insides of her thigs and stomach.
"Wow…" She sighed slouching against his naked chest.
….
"Hey, Sesshou."
"Hn?" Came his monosyllabic reply.
"I've been thinking about what Inuyasha said the other night... about karma. What did you have against humans and miko in the past?"
Sesshoumaru rose to a sitting position, leaning his back against the wall of the dojo before speaking. "It was a long time ago onna."
"Sesshoumaru, you've lived for two centuries... and from what I've learned you held a prejudice against humans and miko for the majority of your life. What changed?" Kagome pressed.
The silver haired inu gave an uncharacteristic sigh before pulling the raven haired woman colser to him as if to prevent her from escaping his embrace.
"I was raised mostly by my mother. Many of the preconveived notions I had were ingrained in me at a very young age. When my father left my mother for Inuyasha's, it was not well recieved. I blamed Izayoi for the failure of my parent's mating. I despised her for stealing my father from me and giving him a new family. I assumed the worst only ever knowing my mother's side of things. If a human woman could be so cruel as to seduce a hapilly mated male, with no regard for his family, then humans must have little to no moral fiber... or at least that is what my young mind came up with. I didn't learn that my father and mother's mating was arranged until I became what you would call an adolescent. It was years later that I discovered that my parent's arrangement was less than blissful and that Izayoi played no role in my father's betrayal. She didn't discover he was leading a double life until after she was pregnant with Inuyasha. My distaste for humans was misplaced due to not understanding the dynamic of my mother and father's relationship. Needless to say, I grew up and forgave both my father and Izayoi."
Kagome waited until he finished speaking before saying, "And miko?"
"Aside from being raised to believe that miko were the natural enemy of youkai... there isn't much I can tell you. When Inuyasha first began seeing Kikyou, I was adamant against the relationship because I was concerned for his safety. It wasn't a matter of dislike, but distrust. I've been around a bit longer than Inuyasha has, and I have been witness to the fragile nature of the alliance we have with mankind. Trust is earned on an individual basis, and It took me meeting and knowing your aunt to realize not ALL miko aim to eliminate youkai indiscriminantly. Though cautious of those with holy energy, I have found that an individual's character supercedes their nature."
Kagome rose from her position against Sesshoumaru's chest and kissed him gently on his lips. "Thank you for sharing this with me."
"Hai. I have done a bit of growing over the years. You must realize that I have only recently reached adulthood. I still have many more centuries to endure. My personality may yet shift again."
He stood from his position on the floor and helped the petite miko do the same.
"I've made contact with a miko I think capable of teaching you to gain control over your reiki." Sesshoumaru said while toweling his sweaty hair.
"Really? What's her name?" Kagome questioned.
"Her name is Kaede. She was responsible for training your aunt. I believe she may be able to answer some questions concerning your reiki and why Kikyou had it sealed away."
…
Zenshuji Soto
Kagome looked up at the temple doors in awe. "I didn't even know there were temples in Los Angeles." She breathed out.
"Yes miko, there are a few… though sparse, they exist." Sesshoumaru finished as he made his way into the temple.
They were greeted by an elderly woman dressed in traditional priestess attire.
"Good to see you Lord Sesshoumaru." She said.
"You as well Kaede. Is there a special occasion?" He asked while gesturing to her attire.
"Oh, this?" The old woman laughed. "I just thought I'd look the part since you said you were bringing me a new student."
The older priestess turned her attention to the young lawyer. Her eyes widened minutely before saying, "It has been a long while Kagome. I was wondering when I'd have the honor of training you."
Kagome looked at the woman in surprise. "I'm sorry, have we met?"
"You were but a child, 3 or 4 years in age when your aunt had me commission those earrings for you." Kaede spoke while pointing to Kagome's ears.
Kagome gave a look of bewilderment as she reached for her ears. "I don't remember you…"
"You wouldn't. And that is quite all right. We will make up for lost time. Go change into something more comfortable. Lord Sesshoumaru, May I have a word?"
Sesshoumaru nodded as he stepped off to the side with the elderly miko.
"Has she taken the earrings off at all?" She asked.
"Hai, once. As soon as she removed them, her aura expanded and her reiki surged uncontrollably. Do the earrings contain her power?" He asked expectantly.
"Iie. The earrings do nothing of the sort. They have very little magic. They only serve as a signal. When they make contact with another charmed accessory it flares in familiarity in order to ensure the wearers recognize each other."
"So, why can I not sense her powers when she wears them?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Think of it as a psychological block. The mind is a powerful thing no?"
"So you're saying Kagome has been keeping her own powers at bay without even knowing?" He queried.
"That is exactly what I'm saying. The earrings only work because her subconscious believes they work. She is very powerful. In fact, as a child I could sense that her reiki would eventually rival that of Midoriko. Had her powers been exposed she likely would have been recruited by the Holy Brotherhood at a young age with no freedom to choose her own destiny. Kikyou hoped the child would enter into the occult of her own will. It seems that fate ensured she'd find her way into our world regardless."
Kagome chose that moment to return to the room. "Okay I'm ready Miko-sama."
"Lord Sesshoumaru, you may want to return later. This may become dangerous for you."
Sesshoumaru nodded and exited the room as Kaede turned to Kagome and requested her to remove the earrings.
Kagome's power flooded the room in huge crackling waves and Kaede began speaking above the noise,
"I'd like you to focus on how you feel child. Describe to me the sensation of your power."
Kagome closed her eyes and began describing how she felt. "I… I feel warm. I feel like I'm wading in the ocean and wave after wave of water is flowing pass me- no... through me."
"Can you feel the source of that warmth? Tell me, where does it arise from?" Kaede prodded.
The younger miko's brows furrowed in concentration as she focused her attention to the power flowing out of her body. "My- my belly."
"Focus on that warmth young one. Commit that feeling to memory."
Kagome nodded in response as she focused on the warmth that spread throughout her being.
"Kagome, I'd like you to attempt to draw your power back."
"I- I- can't!" Kagome protested.
"You can child… Give me your earrings. Kaede said while holding out her hand.
Kagome placed the bolts in her hand then Kaede pulled another identical pair from her robes. She Then walked over to Kagome and placed both pair in her ears. Immediately Kagome's power receded.
"The power has withdrawn back inside of you, no?" Kaede said.
Kagome blinked and nodded before saying, "Yes, but it's only because of the earrings."
The grey haired miko laughed before removing one set of earrings from the younger miko's ears and paused as Kagome's powers stayed suppressed.
"I just removed the earrings your aunt gave you. The earrings that remain have no special power. It is you who has control over the suppression of your reiki."
Kagome blinked in confusion. "But- how!?"
"That is your own challenge child. Remove the earrings in your ear now."
Kagome did as she was told and instead of her powers flaring out of control they remained locked inside of her.
"We must teach you how to call upon your powers now that we know you have the ability to lock them away. Only a truly powerful individual can subdue their reiki the way that you have. We will begin with meditation." Kaede finished.
Kagome folded her legs beneath her and positioned her hands in the way the older miko demonstrated as she attempted to clear her mind.
"Do you recall the warmth you described? I want you to focus your energy and attempt to draw a small amount of that warmth into your fingers."
Kagome took a deep breath as she tried to concentrate on the warm feeling she had just moments ago. She felt a warmth grow inside her tummy and attempted to push that warmth and focus it to her finger tips, but nothing happened.
"You are your own worst enemy child. You think too much. Just feel…"
….
"How'd it go?" Sesshoumaru asked from his sitting position on the steps as Kagome stepped out of the large oak doors of the temple.
Kagome brushed her bangs from her face while sighing then spoke, "Apparently I've had control of my reiki all along. I just have to break down my mental barriers in order to use it to my full ability."
"Hn." Sesshoumaru grunted. "Shall we leave?"
"Yea, I suppose." She said as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and the lightning bolt earring glimmered in the artificial light of the lamp post that towered above them.
…
"You've got to be kidding me! Why would anyone need this many laws?! This constitution is larger than Alabama's!" Kagome huffed in exasperation.
"You must recognize that youkai have walked the earth far longer than mankind, onna. You also fail to realize that the laws outlined in this constitution govern all of youkai society. Not just California." Sesshoumaru explained. "You are the one who said you wanted to bridge the gap between youkai law and human law did you not?" He teased.
"Yes… I know. I'm still allowed to complain though. I need to find a way to make my studying for this certification applicable to my current case load."
"Whatever helps you accomplish the task before you." Sesshoumaru said dismissively as he made his way to the refrigerator to grab a cold hard apple cider.
"Gosh you're so unsympathetic." She sighed as she watched him plop down on her sofa next to her.
"Hn."
…
A/N: Hope you liked it… I'm not 100% satisfied with this chapter... (I may come in and change some things around...)I tried to include a little bit of everything since it is #20! Whoooooo! We made it to 20 chapters guys! I can't believe it! Lol. Aside from me not liking this chapter... I think the story is moving right along.