AUL 05
the fifth chapter of AUL. thanks goes to mlmonty!
New characters (last chapter): created by me
Ichiro - Inu-youkai - Ichiro is the Captain of the Guard and head of Sesshoumaru’s guard. He is the only other demon that the lord feels he can trust; the two were raised like brothers. His father was a great and respected General Ukito in Inu no Taisho’s army. Ichiro is as tall as Sesshoumaru, coming only an inch below the lord. His steel armor is polish silver with red markings over the chest. His deep gray eyes matched his hair. Some say that Ichiro is the picture of a darker Sesshoumaru. His markings are a deep blue and cover his wrists, chest and face; one stripe on each cheek.
~ . o . O . o . ~
An Unexpected Love
Chapter Five : Wonderland
~ . o . O . o . ~
Kagome was left gasping for air when Sesshoumaru broke the kiss. In the confusion, she had not realized that they had stepped into the well until she saw the dirt below her feet. Her sapphire eyes looked up, expecting to see a blue sky instead she was greeted with a faint light. In that instant, the miko knew where she was. It had worked. They had transcended time.
Kagome tried to back away quickly, hoping in some way the twisted universe would allow her to warn her family before the youkai ripped them into little pieces. However, Sesshoumaru’s arm was keeping her firmly in place and within the blink of her eye, they were above the ground, moving up the steps through the two wooden double doors.
The air smelled different and she always felt at home when she breathed in the air of her birthplace. The Goshin Boku stood only yards away and Kagome curiously peered up at the man that still held her close. His skin felt like it was on fire and her fear rose. ‘What was he thinking?’ She did not want him to go crazy. Inuyasha never seemed to have that bad a reaction to her time.
The lord wrinkled his nose. Strange smells and sounds were assaulting him and he needed a moment to adjust. This world was strange indeed. A part of him could not grasp what the woman had spoken of and tugged at his disbelief in her. He told himself that she was crazy, delusional. But he was wrong. The ground had been replaced with rocks and he could smell the dying powers. His eyes spotted the old familiar tree and the shrine.
Kagome did not know how she would explain the current situation to her family. Or if they would even understand. And then she had to worry about Sesshoumaru killing them if he got angry. Wasn’t her life hard and complicated enough already? Just as she was desperately trying to figure a way out of the current life or death situation, faint sounds grabbed their attention.
The woman’s mouth dropped open as she saw her mother appear from the house. They locked eyes and joy spread over the elder’s features. “Kagome your home! What a surprise,” she rushed, broom in hand to her daughter’s side. Her brown eyes took in Kagome’s clothes and she briefly dared to glance at the man close to her. “You brought friend, come in.”
It was a silent sign and Kagome winced. “Yes, Mom this is Sesshoumaru,” she managed to rush, deciding to skip the Inuyasha’s-brother part. Her mother nodded and lead the way to the entrance. The female tried to move away but Sesshoumaru would not relinquish his strong hold. She was forced to remain by his side.
When they entered the house, the trio sat in the living area. Buyo walked up and meowed which him earned a scratch from the girl. Kagome had quickly noted that Souta must have been at school and she was hoping that Grandpa was out on some crazy errand since he had not been out front. Her mother’s voice broke her scrambled thoughts. “So Kagome, how have things been?”
“Well,” she started. What would she say? It was not every day that she came home, through the well, looking so clean and regal. She sighed and tried to start over. “Well, uh, you see...” she paused again.
Sesshoumaru and her mother both waited for her to finish her sentence, yet silence hung over them. “You are Kagome’s mother?” the demon turned to face her.
“Yes,” she replied with a smile.
Before Kagome could speak, he continued. “I am please to meet you. I am Kagome’s betrothed, Lord of the Western Lands, Sesshoumaru.” Kagome’s mouth dropped open at the same time as her mother’s and both were speechless. He continued on, ignorant of their stupor, “I can assure you that I will take proper care of her. She will have the opportunity to visit often.”
She stared at her mother’s face. Kagome knew it would be a shock and had wanted to ease her mother into her impending future. “Mom.” Kagome managed to finally find her voice. Their eyes met again. “Mom, I...”
“Kagome, are you...” her mother stopped, unsure of what word she was looking for.
She stood and turned to the demon. “Please, Sesshoumaru, could you give me a moment with my mother?”
He understood that humans were emotional and decided that there was no threat in leaving her side for several minutes. The youkai stood and walked through the door they had entered earlier. He could hear Kagome’s voice as she tried to explain what had happened in the past week.
Sesshoumaru closed the door behind him. The wind caressed his skin and caused his hair to dance. This world was indeed different. He wanted a quick glance without the woman. He moved much faster alone. In a flash, he was on top of the nearest tree, overlooking the city below. Steel, glass and concrete greeted his sharp eyes. Only moments ago, there had been trees, grass and sky. And more pleasant sounds. Tires screeched as he heard humans yelling at each other. He grunted. He indeed did not want to live in this time, and the lord silently hoped that he would not live to see this either. It was disgusting.
He heard the door open and Kagome emerged from the confines of the house. Her face was a little puffy and he could smell the tears that she shed. She looked around quickly before she rushed to the shed. He chose that opportunity to descend to the ground, landing when Kagome appeared from the building.
“Sesshoumaru, where were you?” There was an urgency in her voice.
“I was only taking a look around.” He tried to calm her. “I did not go far. How is your mother?” The inquiry was a diversion from her onslaught of coming questions.
Kagome averted her eyes, blankly staring out. “I think she will be fine,” the girl replied as she chewed on her bottom lip. It had been hard to explain the truth of the situation. In the end, Kagome had opted to leave some of the details out. Her mother had asked about Inuyasha but Kagome could not explained the tangled web they were in. Instead, Kagome had told her that she had not seen him for almost a week and then asked her to not broach the subject in front of Sesshoumaru. She broke her train of thought. “Are you hungry?” she asked, meeting his eyes.
“I am interested in seeing what you eat in this time.”
Kagome laughed at his comment. “We aren’t aliens. We still eat the same things. Humans now produce food on a much larger scale than what you are used to. There are grocery stores and markets that keep the food until we go buy it,” she smiled as he nodded his understanding. He sure was more curious than Inuyasha.
~ . o . O . o . ~
This was what got him into trouble in the first place. His damn curious nature. The hanyou growled as he continued to free his hand. When he woke, the room was dark and he was alone. Inuyasha could only assume that it was night. He had found that someone had freed his right hand and left the coffin open giving him the chance for his escape. If this was Sesshoumaru’s idea of amusement, Inuyasha had reassured himself that he would rip that smirk off his brother’s face.
After several moments, the half-demon stepped free and quickly made his way to the exit through the back, disappearing into the night. Inuyasha knew where they had gone. Sesshoumaru intended to travel to Kagome’s time and although he may have been helpless to prevent such an act, he would not let his brother destroy her world.
He stopped, ducking behind the stone wall for cover when a guard came into view. ‘Damn it.’ He didn’t have time for this. The youkai turned, walking the way he came and Inuyasha let out his breath, continuing on his way. If he pushed himself, he could make it in just under four hours. His thoughts were jumbled as he entered the forest, jumping to the tops of the trees for a slightly quicker pace.
Inuyasha had yet to figure out how exactly he was going to stop his brother, but he was the only one who stood a chance. Once he had passed into the forest near their village, the hanyou had formed a shaky plan with a couple of back-ups just in case. It seemed hopeless but he still had to try. Suddenly, a soul collector caught his eyes and halted him in his tracks. His breathing was ragged and loud as his thoughts tumbled in his head.
With only another moment’s hesitation Inuyasha darted off after the carrier. ‘What the hell was Kikyou doing this close to the village?’ She had not approached this area in a long time. There had to be a reason. Naraku flashed in his thoughts. ‘Great, the last thing I need.’
He slowed his pace when he smelled her near, preferring a quieter method. The light from the soul collectors illuminated the forest, giving an ethereal quality to everything it touched. Kikyou was resting against a large oak tree. Her eyes were closed. Her face held a serene expression.
“Kikyou,” he quietly spoke as he inched closer. His eyes moved around the forest, not sensing anyone else. ‘She must be hiding here.’ Amber orbs settled on her features again as he rested beside her on the ground. Clawed fingers touched the clay cheek. No warmth. “Kikyou.” His words were whispered.
Her eyes fluttered open, focusing on his. “Inuyasha,” her voice was light, and he could tell she was still groggy from sleep.
“What are you doing here?”
~ . o . O . o . ~
It had been a long day and Kagome could not wait to sleep in her own bed. The problem was that now she had a six foot tall demon that insisted on sleeping in the same room. ‘I swear, he’s as bad as Inuyasha!’ she silently fumed as her hand went to the doorknob. Kagome wasn’t sure how she was going to survive the night. To her relief, when she entered her room ready for bed, he had taken up Inuyasha’s position by the window. The moonlight made his hair glitter and Kagome found herself captivated by his image. His gaze moved from outside the window to her as the door clicked shut.
The youkai was glad that she was unable to hear his intake of air. The spaghetti-strap top matched the capris in an elegant vintage flower print. The pinkish-reds contrasted with her pale skin and raven hair. Sesshoumaru kept his place as she approached the bed, choosing to ignore his first impression as he pretended to return his attention to the outside scenery.
Kagome kept her silence as well as she climbed into bed. The demon could hear her movements as the wood creaked and settled under her weight. After several moments, he glanced over. She was sound asleep, resting with her back to him. Curiosity overtook his senses as he stood and moved to peer into the sleeping beauty’s face. At every passing moment, Kagome had become more appealing.
Her light, rhythmical breathing echoed around the room as he stood over her for many moments. Sesshoumaru contemplated their situation. Things had seemingly gotten more difficult. Kagome’s secret was both a powerful and dangerous ally. He understood Inuyasha’s anger and the sense of urgency that had hung over him when he last saw him. The hanyou had indeed been right to hide her origins.
The demon returned to his window, his thoughts consumed on his next plan of action. Before he knew it, the sun’s rays rose to greet him and Sesshoumaru was able to see the city come to life. Kagome stirred in her bed, shifting her weight as he could hear the thudding of feet that zoomed across the hall and down the stairs. Mrs. Higurashi’s voice could be heard giving commands to the little boy that darted by seconds ago. He could hear their conversation and the sound of the door shutting close behind them.
Sesshoumaru decided to investigate the lower house, leaving a still sleeping Kagome. As he stepped off the stairs, he entered the living room only to walk past into the adjoining space. He was met with a strange shiny room filled with the smell of food and humming appliances. Sesshoumaru paused long enough to scan the scenery through the window above the sink before moving on.
He entered into a hallway that connected with the front foyer and turned left digging deeper into the house’s depths. At the end, there were two doors. The demon chose the right, opening the door to see the expanse devoid of light. His well-trained eyes squinted, focusing on the objects that littered the shelves. The odor of dried herbs and roots tingled with the musky air. He could tell that the room held secrets and decided to wait before taking a better look.
Sesshoumaru emerged into the hallway intent on investigating whatever was behind the second door. When he opened the wooden slab, a majestic garden graced his eyes. It felt as if he was stepping back into his childhood. Red flowers greeted him bringing thoughts of his mother to life. Running water could be heard as birds chirped above his head. He caught his breath for the second time. ‘What the hell is going on?’ Had he stepped back in time? Sesshoumaru could have sworn that his father had destroyed his mother’s garden long ago.
“Sesshoumaru?” Kagome’s voice made him turn. He was stunned with his mask completely gone. They locked eyes and the girl witnessed Sesshoumaru’s flood of emotions. The demon stood frozen unable to move as his mother filled his vision. She stood behind the woman in the doorframe. “Sesshoumaru?”
“Mother?” She faded away, leaving Kagome, still in her pajamas, alone again. He had heard her voice, there was no denying it. Was he going crazy? Had the time difference began wearing his mental state down?
“Sesshoumaru,” she spoke again as she quickly moved to his side. “Sesshoumaru are you okay? What happened?” Her hand went to touch his arm and he suddenly jerked. She knew she had caught his attention this time. ‘Had he seen his mother?’
Amber eyes focused on the female. Raven hair, porcelain skin, rosy lips and eyes that you could drown in. There was a long silence before he spoke. “What is the meaning of this garden?”
Sesshoumaru’s question threw her for a loop. “The garden? But what does the garden have to do with...”
He grabbed her furious that she was continuing this facade. “Do not play with me woman. I have lost my patience and you will not like me when I am angry.”
Kagome winced, not from pain but from his words. ‘Why was he so angry? What was he talking about?’ She took a deep breath trying to recall his question. The garden...her grandfather knew more about it’s history than she did. She had never listened when he rambled on and on. She had heard all his stories before. Kagome tried to quickly remember the stories that filled her imagination when she was a young girl, yet it was no good. She could not remember anything but silly folklore full of goblins and faeries. Suddenly she realized that the things she believed to be fantasy could have in fact been true.
He growled, his resolve quickly fading. Anger began boiling up, filling his veins, Sesshoumaru could barely continue on. In an instant, he had Kagome pinned against him as he devoured her mouth and tongue. She struggled but found it useless under his iron-tight hold. It had been apparent that the demon had lost control of himself. His emotions had been bottled up too long.
When the kiss ended, Kagome tried to pull away but found that difficult. Her breathing was heavy and she panted trying to catch air. “Sess...hou...maru...”
The demon took her hand leading her deeper into the trained growth. The still stunned woman could only follow as she tried to desperately form any question in her mind. ‘What would have made him that upset?’ However much her curiosity tugged at her thoughts, Kagome knew that she certainly could not ask the temperamental demon outright. It was strange, he seemed to know where he was going.
They abruptly stopped and Kagome found herself near the edge of the grounds. The tall wooden fence surrounded the whole property, cutting off the outside city sights. She could feel tension ease out of his body. ‘What had he expected to find?’ Sesshoumaru turned to her, under control again. She quickly asked him again before he could break her out of her resolution. “Sesshoumaru, are you okay? Do you feel sick?” She was afraid that the time distortion may have started effecting him.
He shook his head. “No, I am fine. I am sorry for frightening you earlier.” He peered back to the wall. It had just been an illusion. Sesshoumaru had been fooled. His eyes turned to her. “Do you know anything about this garden?”
She shook her head no. “But my grandfather knows all the myths about the shrine.” She turned to glance back to the house. “He should be home soon. Do you want to wait inside?” He nodded but before he could speak, Kagome’s stomach growled announcing it’s presence.
Sesshoumaru smiled. “Good. Now let’s get you some food.” He took her arm and the two found their way back to the kitchen.
Kagome sat him down at the table as she fished through the cabinets and pantry, bringing out various boxes and a container of colored water, setting everything in front of him. “What would you like to eat?”
The lord had thought that human dishes would never touch his tongue, yet he had been proven wrong when Kagome insisted on him eating Mrs. Higurashi’s ‘special homemade chicken and rice casserole’ the night before. To his surprise, it had not been as bad as he would have thought. Sesshoumaru found himself liking humans and their exotic dishes. It was a pleasant change and yet it still seemed natural. But what to pick. “I do not know.”
Kagome laughed at his response. “Okay, well my cooking is not as good as my mother’s but I can try.” She said as she rolled up her sleeves. Sesshoumaru stared at the items in front of them. She pour the red liquid into a glass and handed it to him. Sharp eyes did not move from the colored substance. “It’s okay to drink it. It’s juice.” She poured herself a glass as well before downing half.
He watched her actions before repeating them himself. The juice was sweet and yet he found it irresistible. “What is this beverage?”
“It’s a juice that is really popular with the kids today.” He studied her movements. She had started breaking eggs open to set them aside before mixing the contents of the boxes from earlier in another bowl. “I hope you like eggs and pancakes.”
He nodded although Sesshoumaru was not sure what ‘eggs and pancakes’ were or whether he would indeed like them. The demon had to admit that he did like watching the woman as she busied herself, relaxing her guard. Sesshoumaru did not want to hurt her and when he realized how he truly felt the demon could no longer hide it from himself. He had, in some degree, fallen in love with the one before his eyes. How and when it happened was still a mystery but it was one he was willing to let go. He did not need answers anymore.
Kagome’s secret had been discovered and he could see her begin to relax. Her bright personality has shown itself more with each passing day. Their relationship would move forward and Sesshoumaru felt that he might attain happiness. Kagome was an understanding partner with loyalty and compassion. And in time, he would gain her love as well. She was a perfect mate for him because in the end, he demanded nothing less.
Kagome's laughter brought him to the present. He smelled the ‘eggs and pancakes’ but could only stare dumbly at the plate before him. “Do you want syrup or whip cream?” He glanced at hers and saw it covered in a liquid. “You want to try it first?” she questioned as she saw the direction his eyes were looking. Kagome cut the patty and dipped it into the sweet sauce. “Here,” she said as she leaned forward, her other hand cupped under the precious morsel. “Open up.”
Sesshoumaru paused before leaning in as well, opening his mouth to accept her creation. He was again surprised. It was delicious. “Hmmm, this is sweet. I am very impressed with your world Kagome.” His voice dropped low and it sent chills down her spine. “I would very much like to have this ‘syrup’.”
Kagome blushed and quickly pulled her hand away, wanting to break his gaze and thanking whatever god above for the distraction. She poured a great amount onto his pancakes as he began testing the eggs. She hid her smile behind a hand as she began eating too. It dawned on Kagome that this was probably the first time Lord Sesshoumaru had ever eaten eggs or pancakes.
The rest of the breakfast was eaten in silence as they both enjoyed modern food. After the meal, Kagome went to change. She called Sesshoumaru upstairs to scrutinize his appearance, circling him while making faces. “Well, we can’t let you go outside looking like that. The men in our time don’t dress as... well as handsome as you do. But we don’t have any clothing for you either.”
Sesshoumaru growled a little. “There is nothing wrong with my appearance.”
“Of course not,” she hurriedly replied, “but here people will stare at you and we don’t really want to draw their attention to a six foot demon walking around.” Kagome had hoped that she could reason with Sesshoumaru. ‘It’s bad enough that it will be impossible to hide your markings.’ She changed the subject quickly. “I just thought that you would like to see what the city was like.” She smiled sweetly.
Although Sesshoumaru was suspicious, he agreed with her motives. He had to allow the woman some free rein over him. If he was to see and learn about Kagome’s world then he would need to explore and that called for ‘dressing appropriately’. She squealed at his response. He was so agreeable. ‘Unlike Inuyasha.’ Her smile faltered. Why did her mind always return to that hanyou? She pushed those thoughts aside, deciding to concentrate on her husband-to-be.
Sesshoumaru was distracted as the front door opened, not noticing her faltering. He could hear the shuffle of footsteps as they came closer. An elderly man appeared before their eyes. The trio stood frozen, Kagome and her grandfather unsure of what to do next as Sesshoumaru recognized jiji's ceremonial clothing.
“Grandpas,” Kagome began.
“Kagome, what is going on?” he exclaimed as he stared at the demon. He knew what the creature in front of him was and only a sliver of what destruction he could rain down.
~ . o . O . o . ~
Inuyasha awoke with a start. The moon hung high in the night sky, dimly lighting the forest. For a brief second, he could not remember where he was or what had happened. The forest around him seemed to sway with a light wind as it caressed him. He stood, leaning heavily against the tree for support. Something tugged at him. His eyes concentrated on the empty spot to his right. The void seemed to stretch before him as he realized Kikyou had disappeared again.
However, Inuyasha knew that she could not have gone far. The barrier was still erected, concealing their location from prying eyes. ‘Why did she leave cover?’ The hanyou sniffed the air. The odor of earth lingered in the air as he let his nose do the guiding. He emerged from the tree line. The river snaked along as he spotted the red and white of Kikyou’s clothing.
As quickly and quietly as he could, Inuyasha moved to her side, intent on drilling her with questions. What was she doing so close to the village? Why did she leave the barrier? Kikyou turned to met his eyes as he stood a few feet away. The silence was drawn out before he whispered her name. “Kikyou.”
“Inuyasha,” she whispered back. He knew she was waiting, waiting for him to continue, but Inuyasha could not find his voice though his lips moved. She reached for his hand and pulled him gently with her as she walked to the serene waters. All Inuyasha could do was numbly follow her. The urgent thoughts and questions had slipped through his fingers as they entered the warm summer waters.
The surrounding scenery began to ripple again, fading in and out as Inuyasha tried to keep his eyes open and focused. Confusion consumed him as he lost the ability to decipher reality from illusions. He was lost in the web that had been set.
~ . o . O . o . ~
Kagome sat under the Goshin Boku staring up through the branches into the starry night sky. The city sounds gave her mixed feelings and she found herself yearning for the gentle hum of crickets. Her mind was burdened with the events of the last few weeks. How would she make it through such a tough situation this time? Memories of Inuyasha flooded her thoughts; his words, his actions.
“Don’t worry, Kagome, I am here with you. We can make it through anything.”
A deep sigh erupted from her. She could not count on him. She was alone. She closed her eyes as her time with Inuyasha washed over her. It seemed like a hopeless situation. The one her heart truly called for had abandoned her, choosing instead a clay pot. Anger flared as tears fell. Never had Kagome been so empty. Her heart sagged in her chest as she could only continue on in her silent hell. She should at least be grateful that Sesshoumaru held some sliver of interest in her.
Sesshoumaru had to pull himself out of her heavenly image. The Mandarin style clothing complimented her to no extent. The satiny aqua coupled with the soft honey yellow trim made her raven hair, rosy lips, and blue eyes more prominent. He was becoming lost in this human female. He had to break this hold, free himself. “Kagome,” the name slipped out unbidden by the demon. Her train of thoughts halted when she heard him.
She peered up to see his amber eyes on her. “Sesshoumaru,” she whispered as she abruptly stood. Kagome cursed herself, hoping that he would not be able to sense or smell despair. “Umm, what are you doing?” she asked as she tried to make the atmosphere lighter. His white yukata was leaving little to the imagination.
He moved to quickly grab her arm, restraining her from moving further away. He could not wait any longer. Within the hour, the bond that he had formed would have vanished and the delicate time line that they were following would be disrupted. Everything would have to begin again and Sesshoumaru was not that patient. “What are you thinking about?”
“Thinking about?” Kagome blinked as she could only repeat his words as he inched himself closer. Inuyasha had vanished from her thoughts and the woman could not remember any worries as their lips met. His hands pulled her against his chest. The light yukata was open and revealed his chest. Kagome could feel the demon’s soft skin and could not help but let her hands roam over the muscles. She longed for things that she had not known existed as Sesshoumaru deepened the kiss.
A soft moan escaped her throat. It broke the shaky resolve that the demon had been holding back. The deadline was approaching quickly. Sesshoumaru broke the kiss, wrapping his arms around Kagome’s waist as he swiftly moved up into the branches of the sacred tree. His hand caressed her neck and followed the cloth that was open, which revealed the swell of her breasts. He trailed kisses down, unbuttoning the top to bare her taught nipples.
Lost in his touch, Kagome could only surrender at the overwhelming sensations Sesshoumaru had unearthed inside her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, filling her hands with the hair at the base of his head. His hand slipped down her bottoms. Kagome jumped, startled by his forward contact. She only hesitated slightly before urging him on, drowning in the pleasure he was creating. She wanted more.
Sesshoumaru wasted no time, cutting his finger so that he could mingle their blood again. His fingers teased her folds momentarily before entering. Kagome was surprised and jerked under him. The demon found that he had to tightened his hold on her, he needed her still. “Kagome,” his voice was husky and deep as he demanded her to look at him.
Her eyes fluttered open. She pulled on the hair in her hands, not wanting to listen anymore. He growled and roughly devoured her mouth as his fingers continued their assault. Her release racked the woman’s body as she went limp in his arms. A smile played across her features and her eyes closed into a dreamless sleep.
~ . o . O . o . ~
I now have someone helping me! Yay a beta after all! So I will fix any errors that were in the previous chapters. If it’s something important then I will make a note that you might want to re-read it. Thanks to Marcia for the help. [
mlmonty ] She’s great because she’s also helping me with another one of my fics as well! I love kind people. Kind people beta, rate and review. Hey at least do one! @,@ And thanks to Karen Kane for helping me clear up the yukata confusion! ^^ Okay, so to clear up anything.... Kagome is only able to remember one of Sesshoumaru’s little “meetings”; and I’m referring to chapter two when Kagome was bathing. For the other two she was sedated by the incense. Just in case anyone forgot!
Yukata - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimono
Jiji - is a term Kagome used in reference to her granfather
CREDIT CREDIT CREDIT!!! The pajama design I got from http://www.bedheadpjs.com; style: Ming/Aqua Paisley. Here are two links I uploaded for you.
{Coral Ming: http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g147/fieryamazon/fanfiction/coral.jpg}
{Aqua Paisley: http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g147/fieryamazon/fanfiction/aqua.jpg}
