Evolution of a Taiyoukai

By Danyealle

(FanFiction/MF/angst)

Chapter 5

About 2 a.m. Sesshomaru woke.  Not sure what stirred him into wakefulness he opened his eyes but didn’t have to do more than look down to figure out what it was.  Kagome was curled up next to him with her head resting on his chest, her ear resting over his heart, awake.  Putting a hand on her back he asked, quietly, “Are you alright?”

Looking up at him without moving her head, she smiled, “Yeah, I’m fine.  I’m just not used to sleeping next to anyone is all.  It’s strange.”  Then she pulled away, starting to move.

Rubbing her back, he held her in place.  “You’re fine, you don’t have to move.”  He told her softly.  He hadn’t thought about the fact that she had probably never shared a bed with anyone but the knowledge pleased him.

Smiling a little, she relaxed.  She loved the sound in his chest when he spoke; it was like a sonic symphony that was made up of just sounds and vibrations, not words.  It was almost musical sounding.  “Thanks.”  She told him quietly.

Starting to run his claws gently through her hair, he gazed down into her eyes but said nothing.

“Can I ask you something?”  She queried after a few minutes of saying nothing. 

“Anything you like.’  He replied softly.

Looking away, she was quiet for a few seconds, trying to formulate how to ask what she wanted to know without embarrassing herself or sounding like a complete and utter fool.  Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  “The other day when you kissed me you said there are plenty of others out there that want me.” Then she stopped again, quiet.  After a mental stiffening of her backbone she looked up at him again.  “When you said that did you mean yourself?”  She asked, voice so quiet it almost wasn’t there.

When he had first said that her mind had immediately jumped to Kouga but since that time with the way he had him acting she began to wonder if it wasn’t himself that he meant.  That was the only reason she could think of to explain his so out of character behavior and the softness he had treated her with.  At first she had thought it was just her imagination but now she didn’t think so.

Reaching out, he traced the tip of one of his fingers gently down the side of her face.  She always had been intelligent and perceptive and she had just proven it once more.  Though he had planned to wait a while to reveal it to her he wasn’t going to lie to her either.  Looking into those captivating eyes of hers, he said, “Yes.”  Now that he revealed it he had to wait for her reaction because he wasn’t sure what it would be.  Realistically he would understand if she wasn’t ready to pursue another relationship now or even consider doing so, plus their past history had been less than stellar and it didn’t make him an ideal candidate although he hoped with his recent behavior change it would mitigate his past.

Smiling, she looked up at him.  “Good, I thought I had either lost my mind or that you were possessed or an imposter.”

Though her statement made him chuckle internally he kept a neutral expression on his face.  Her smile was encouraging it still didn’t answer the question he had though.  “Does that mean you would be interested in pursuing something with me?”

Reaching out, she was going to touch his face but pulled her hand back, not sure how he would react to it.  “I think I would like that.  The way you’ve treated me makes me feel wonderful and so special.  But the bit with Inuyasha…”  She said, trailing off.

“I understand you’re still hurting from what he had done and can appreciate that time is needed to distance yourself from that.  I’m not proposing we move at top speed but to go slowly and build something from that.  Relationships that come right after a failed one to sooth a hurt never work, that isn’t what I’m proposing.  A slow courtship was what I had in mind.”  Taking the hand she had pulled away, he put it on his cheek.  “You’re allowed to touch me all you wish.  Besides, you’re sharing my bed and laying on my chest, why would I object to you touching me?”

Stroking his cheek softly, she smiled again. There was a bloom of something that felt very good, very right, in her chest nestled among the pain.  “Alright oh truly terrifying one, let’s give it a shot.”

Smirking at the name, he wrapped his arm around her waist and sat up slightly, gently pulling her up beside him.  “You won’t regret this.”  He said to her quietly.  Leaning down, he captured his mouth with hers and kissed her tenderly.
When he broke it off he gave her a soft peck on the forehead then held her close to him, resting his cheek on top of her head.

Slipping an arm across his chest, she leaned against him, smiling.  “Know what?”

“What?”  He asked, not moving.

“You’re really good at sharing the covers.  I guess I won’t have to kick you out of bed after all.”  She said, giggling a little bit.

“As if you could.”  He deadpanned back.  “Besides, I would just take you with me.”

She just giggled and gave him a bit of a squeeze.

~~~~~@~~~~~

When Uryu came up to what had always been called the ‘family wing’ the first thing she did was poke her head into the little priestess’ room to see if she was awake.  When she noticed that the bed hadn’t even been slept in her brow furrowed.  Quickly, she checked the hot springs.  When the young ningen wasn’t there she was concerned, wondering where she could have gotten herself to.  Quickly, she exited the room and went to go alert Lord Sesshomaru.

She was one of only about a half dozen beings in the fortress that was allowed unfettered access to the lord anytime, anywhere.  Quickly, she entered his sleeping chamber to alert him but stopped cold when she saw the young woman entwined with him on the bed.  Smiling, she exited the room as quietly as she could, trying not to disturb them.  Hurrying down the hall, she decided to tell the kitchen to put a hold on breakfast for a while.  She was sure Lord Sesshomaru would let her know when they were ready to eat.

Once they knew, she headed back to straighten up Lady Kagome’s room.

~~~~~@~~~~~

Easing himself into her tight sheath, Sesshomaru looked down into her eyes and bared his fangs at her.  “Tight bitch!”  He snarled as he slid all the way in.

Moaning, she looked up at him, eyes cloudy and half-lidded, face flushed.  Fingers dug into his forearms, she drew her legs up further and wrapped them around his waist.  “Oh Kami Sesshomaru!”  She moaned.

“Yes!”  He growled, thrusting harder and faster.  He could feel her slick, tight walls gripping onto his hard shaft, almost as though they were squeezing it.

Her hips began to thrust slightly in time with his, lifting off the bed a bit as she did.  Nails digging into his forearms, she panted heavily.  “Harder please!”  She moaned in a breathy voice.

Thrusting harder, he slid one hand down between her legs and rubbed her clit with the ball of his thumb.  “My Kagome!  My bitch!”  He growled, eyes locked on her face.

“Oh yes!  Yours!”  She almost screeched, hips bucking up off the bed.  “Fuck me!  FUCK ME!  Fuckmefuckmefuckmefuckme!”  She screamed.

Slamming into her, he leaned over her body, resting his forearm on the bed above her head.  “Good bitch!”  He snarled then captured her mouth with his while his hips pistoned faster.

Pulling her mouth away from his, she arched up and screamed his name, legs locked tightly around his waist, hips thrusting then came.

As her walls rippled and contracted around his hard flesh, he threw his head back and roared, emptying himself into her.

Eyes flying open, he heard the door shut.  On the heels of that he could feel his whole groin throbbing madly, semi-erect cock still twitching and a puddle of his own fluids nesting on his skin.  Shutting his eyes, he gave an internal groan.  This was just great, he mentally sneered.  No, those dreams and the result weren’t at all odd.  It had happened quite a bit in the last year.  He just did not need it happening when the other participant in the fantasy was lying in bed beside him for the very first time!  What would she think?  Probably that he was no better than that hentai monk.

Now for the other problem…   Just how in the seven hells was he going to extract himself form her so he could get cleaned up without waking her?  She had an arm draped across his chest and her head resting on his shoulder, breathing softly, obviously in a deep sleep.  Laying there, he finally decided to do the only thing he could come up with.  As slowly and gently as he could he moved her arm then slid his shoulder from under her head then gently put her head on the pillow.  She gave a soft snort then flopped over onto her stomach but didn’t wake.  With a relieved sigh, he slid out of bed then went to go clean up.

When he came back and slid back into bed she flopped back over then curled up to him, arm draped over his chest.  Wrapping an arm around her back, he then kissed her on top of the head.  Just laying there like they were, with her pressed to him like she was, had to be among the most pleasurable feelings he had ever experienced.  Her touch and smell calmed and soothed him.  She made him feel truly alive for the first time in his life.

On the heels of that came something that turned his mood downward just a bit: today was the 2nd day she had been at the fortress and the day he had been going to take her to the well.  Yes, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she would come back to him but he would miss her while she was gone. Maybe he could ask her to stay a couple more days?

While lying there, he also realized how long he had been in bed.  This was the longest he had ever stayed in bed in the morning.  In fact, by this time he had usually eaten and was at work.  In fact, the idleness he had shown the last couple days was out of character as well but he wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

~~~~~@~~~~~

A little more than an hour later Kagome finally swam into the waking world.  Hearing his steady thundering heartbeat, she smiled.  Of all the sounds in the world the symphonic beat of his heart had to be one of the most reassuring.  Being pressed to him the way she was she knew she was safer than she would be any other place in the world and wouldn’t change it for anything.

The smell and feel of his bare skin against her sent a riot of sensations through her body.  She almost giggled as a reworded refrain from the Wizard of Oz played through her head: no armor, no swords, no shirt, oh my!  Yes, she was still in mourning for her dead relationship but the closeness to the dangerous demon lord had helped in more ways that she could count.  Somehow it seemed that he had allowed her to lean on him while she took the first baby steps to distance herself from the hurt of the ended relationship.

~~~~~@~~~~~

Though he wasn’t in a doze, he was lost in a deeply contemplative state when he sensed she had finally woken.  Glancing down at the tiny onna curled up his chest, he said, “I see you’ve finally joined the waking world.”

Lifting her head, she looked at him and smiled, “I think so anyway.”  Reluctantly she sat up then yawned and stretched.

Putting a hand on the back of her head, he drew her closer.  Meeting her half way, he kissed her tenderly.  After he broke it off, he rubbed her back and looked at her.  “Go take care of what you need to and I’ll go see about our breakfast.”

Smiling, she kissed him again the said, “Alright.”  Then she bailed off the bed to go take care of things.

When she returned once again he was sitting on the balcony with a full breakfast on the table in front of him.  When she sat down he poured her a cup of tea which she took gratefully then began to pile food on her plate.

While they ate he decided that it was time to bring up the topic of her going home.  “It’s been a couple days since we arrived.  Would you like me to escort you to the well today?”

Setting her chopsticks down, she looked at her plate, thinking.  Realistically, she knew she should go home.  Not only did she have tests she had to take but tons of homework to catch up on and getting help with some of it was needed.  Plus she wanted to spend some time with her family.  Add to that she had a meter long list of supplies to get.  Winter was coming so it was time to lay in supplies for that.  But she didn’t want to leave him or this Eden she had become accustomed to.  Yes, she knew she had to go home sometime this week but she wanted to stay a little longer.  Glancing up at him, she asked, voice quiet, “Would you mind if I stayed a few more days?  If it’s a problem….”  She trailed off.

Giving an internal howl of victory, he replied, “You can stay as long as you like, I would be please to have you stay.”

Smiling, she replied with a soft thanks but did tell him she would have to go home for at least a couple days.  That seemed to be fine with him.  After that the meal seemed to be far more enjoyable for the both of them.

After that there was a bit of small talk while they ate but nothing of any consequence.  But while they talked there was something in the back of his mind.  Because she was now not so consumed with her pain he was a bit apprehensive about how she would view what he had done.  It could very easily be considered a form of manipulation.  NO, he didn’t create the situation or make up any of it but he did indeed use what was going on to his advantage.

Rather than wait for questions to arise later on about it he decided to bring it out in open now and deal with what may come.  No, this wasn’t going to be easy but it was for the best, he reasoned.  Steeling himself, he went about it much the same way he did everything else in his life, straight-forward and to the point.  While she was quietly sipping her tea he jumped in.  “Kagome, I want to talk to you about what I did and my roll in what happened with Inuyasha.”

“Sure.”  She said, leaning back in her chair, curling one leg under her and propping one foot on the edge of the chair, resting her chin on her bent knee.

Looking at her, hoping that she would see that he was being completely forthright with her about his roll in things, he started.  “I’m going to admit to some manipulation the whole debacle with the half-breed.  For quite some time I had an interest in you but knew there was no chance while Inuyasha was in the picture.  When I was starting to see how he was treating you and how hurt you were by what was going on I used what he was doing to get you away from him.  No, I didn’t create the problems, make up what he did or force him in to anything but I did indeed use it to get what I wanted.”  After saying his peace he was quiet, trying to discern what she might be thinking or feeling but the reaction he got was totally unexpected; she smiled.

“So, in other words you had an agenda?”  She grinned bigger and giggled a bit when he nodded.  “I figured that from the very beginning.  You don’t do anything without one.  I don’t call what you did ‘manipulation’ because you didn’t do anything to set it in motion.  That was wholly Inuyasha.  Besides, what you did was for me so that I wouldn’t be hurt anymore.  Yes, there was something you wanted from it but most of it was to stop me from being hurt.  How could I be mad at you for that?

“For about a year both Inuyasha and I knew you were up to something, we just couldn’t figure out what it was.”  Her instincts told her he was apprehensive so she reached across the table and put her hand on his.  “I’m not mad or upset about what you did.  In fact I’m grateful and adore the outcome.”

Relaxing, he nodded.  He most assuredly felt better.  “I just wanted to make sure you were aware of what I had done so the air was clear about it.  And I would do it again without a moment’s hesitation.  No one hurts you without consequences!”  He stated firmly, eyes flashing, making her smile even more. 

“Can I ask you something I’ve been wondering about?”  She queried, looking at him.

“Of course.”  He replied, now in a much less tense and apprehensive state since what he had been concerned out was in the open and dealt with.

“I adore the way you treat me and the gentleness you show but it seems to be so out of character from what I’ve always know from you.  Why is that?”

Smirking, he looked at her.  This wasn’t an unanticipated question.  What she was seeing from him was odd and nothing like his usual behavior.  “As you probably have deduced you’re the only one, aside from Rin, that I’ve ever treated this way.  Part of it is inu nature and instinct.  As a species it’s normal for inu’s to be affection and protective of a female they are attached to.  But in the case of you it goes beyond that.  Most of it comes from just you being you.

“As I told you a while back you truly are the first being that I would consider a friend.  That comes with some very powerful feelings.  But also it comes partially from just you being you.  Your kind and gentle nature combined with my feelings for you have created some powerful feelings and a need for gentleness and to protect you.”  Stopping, brow furrowed, he was quiet for a minute or so then went on.  “Even to myself it’s strange as it is to you but I feel it’s right and what I should be doing.”

“Yes, it does feel right.”  She said softly, eyes twinkling, a small smile on her face.

Grabbing her hand, he gave it a tug, signaling that he wanted her to come to him.  When she rose from her chair he pulled her to him, sitting her on his lap.  Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close, a soft rumbling growl in his chest that signaled his contentment.

Sighing happily, she curled up to him, wrapping one arm around his waist and shutting her eyes.  Sitting there she had another of her internal giggles. 

Since meeting them, she had always rolled her eyes at Inuyasha and Kouga’s jealousy and over-protective streaks.  In fact they could both drive her batty at times with them.  Well, it seemed that she had gone from out of the frying pan and into a holocaust with that because she knew those two couldn’t hold a candle to the terrible taiyoukai in that area!  He gave a whole new meaning to overprotective and she was pretty sure jealousy as well.  This was going to prove to be very interesting, she thought, giggling internally again.

Sitting there, he was calm and happy, more contented than he could ever remember being in his life.  Like always his mind raced over all kinds of things, both in the present and the future.  But he finally forced himself to focus on the present and what he wanted to do with her during her remaining time at the fortress.  Although he adored spending time alone with her, and would be contented to stay sequestered in these chambers with her if that was her wish, there was so much he wanted to show and do with her around the place he hoped would be her home one day.  He would only spend an hour a day on things that needed his attention if she decided she wanted to move about the fortress, he vowed to himself-there would be plenty of time for all of that once she left, the rest of the time would be spent with her.

Then his mood turned south a bit, no much-just a tiny fraction.  Some of his staff and others that stayed here would have a problem with her because of whom and what she was.  Others because of her relationship with him.  He most certainly didn’t want her exposed to such petty viciousness by anyone.  On the other hand, if he dealt with such things now it may well stave off problems down the line if those around found out how quickly and decisively he dealt with such things.

No use making plans for something if he didn’t know her thoughts on the matter.  That part was easy enough to remedy.  “I’ve really liked spending time alone with you.”  He told her quietly.

“Same here.”  She replied, nuzzling him softly with her head.

“I was wondering, however, if you would like to end our exile so I can show you around the fortress and do a few other things.  I’m sure Rin would like to see you as well.  You know how much she adores you.  There are many things I would like to show and do with you that can’t be done if we stay sequestered away.  Be assured, if you don’t feel up to it I will understand.”  He assured her.

She didn’t even have to think about it.  “I would like that!”  She said with a grin.

“Well then, in a little while, we’ll both get ready and I’ll give you the grand tour.”