Yeah another entry for Skye's Weekly Challenge.
This week's theme: Blossoms
Minimum words 1 200: Words used 1 616
Summary: A unique event has Sesshomaru wishing for time to move faster.
Thank you Naraku's Servant for helping me beta this in such short notice. I appreciate all your hard work.
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Weeping Beauty
Pale sun kissed eyes flickered over the horizon. A glowing orb of orange and red sunk below the deep greenery of the forest. Puffs of wispy purple and pink clouds littered the sky. It was almost time, he only had to wait a little longer. Yet the itch rubbing against his aura told him that the one he had brought to witness the event wasn't hiding her impatience as well as he was.
"Sesshomaru," the voice whispered as if fearful to disturb her surroundings, "What are we waiting for?"
Instead of a reply he remained fixated on the sun. There were only a few moments to go before it would be time. But the tickling sensation that washed over him told him that his companion wasn't hiding her displeasure.
"Is this part of my training?"
Once again silence washed over the two individuals. In the distance he could see that it wouldn't be too much longer. Then he could set in motion the plan. However his lack of remarks was beginning to cause an irritating prickle from the miko to run over his natural barrier.
"Have you heard anything I've said at all?" she grumbled with exasperation.
A part of him felt sorry for the woman. There was much she still needed to learn and soon there would be very little time for her to learn. It was evident from the clash of auras that he wouldn't be let off the hook too easily, nevertheless he had made his decision.
"Hey, what are you? A brick wall? Am I talking to myself? Can't you at least explain why you dragged me out of bed in the middle of the night?"
Reflecting on what the woman stated, his golden gaze fell upon her pale face. It was true, he had indeed come into her bed chambers, threw off her covers, draped a thick haori around her shoulders, picked her up, and carted her out of the room within his arms. With his, dare he say, excitement rising, he thought nothing of his soundless behaviour and chose to do as he pleased.
"Look, I love star gazing but it's getting much too cold for this. I mean it's nearly winter and being human means I am not immune to the cold. So can you take me back to the palace?"
"Not yet," he cut in suddenly. "Soon. Just wait a few minutes longer."
A heavy sigh emitted from the woman as she shifted in his lap. He was sprawled on a branch within a bare tree with no leaves. With winter soon approaching many trees had long ago lost the leaves that morphed from green to a splash of yellow, red, orange, and brown. However these particular trees were quite different from any other sort. In fact he had spent all night and an entire day travelling to the particular location.
"I'm cold," Kagome whispered as a shiver ran down her spine and she pulled herself closer to the inu.
Seeing the miko as a pack member now more than ever, Sesshomaru draped the white fluff around her for added warmth. The body heat from his appendage circulated around her shoulders to help regulate her own body heat.
"Humans are so weak," his hoarse voiced cooed lowly.
"Yeah, yeah," she mumbled, well aware of the kindness he showed even with his complaints. "So how much longer?"
"Any second."
The final rays of sun light sunk below the horizon. It wouldn't be long before she could see the moment he was waiting for. Beside him the woman radiated worry and nervousness. It was obvious her thoughts had drifted yet again.
"What am I suppose to be looking for?"
"You will know it when you see it."
"But what if I don't?"
"It's hard to miss."
With a huff the woman settled and stilled. Sesshomaru pondered how long the peace would last, but soon found out that Kagome was satisfied with simply staring at the scenery now that her cold issue had been dealt with.
In his head Sesshomaru began to count down. He couldn't remember the last time he was as excited as that moment. Not to mention over something so small as to see the reaction of the miko's face when she gazed upon the surprise he set up for her.
"Sesshomaru, there's something that I've..."
"Shh," he interrupted as his count began to diminish slowly.
"What is it?" she whispered to match the quiet of his voice. Fearful they were being quiet for a reason.
Sesshomaru gestured with a nod of his head to the area she was suppose to be watching. As a mental zero was reached the inu watched the scene before him unfold.
From the corner of his eyes he could focus upon what the woman saw, but he enjoyed watching Kagome's reaction more than the majestic view that few humans ever witnessed. Wide sapphire eyes took in the active trees that began to bud and blossom all of a sudden. The light of the full moon cast a pale glow over the once bare branches. Those eerie limbs were now filled with the strangest leaves of white cotton fluff and in a matter of minutes large pale pink blossoms began to bloom.
"It's so beautiful. Can you let me down?"
Sesshomaru obliged; allowing the woman to take the white fur of his mokomoko with her in order to keep her warm as she twirled beneath the falling blossoms and fluff. For half an hour they walked beneath the trees that continuously allowed the flowers and leaves to fall to the ground only to find another taking its place soon afterwards. Nearly a thousand years had passed since he had first come here. His mother had shown it to him. He remembered what she told him.
"These trees are cursed because they boasted their beauty all year round. So their blossom come only once every ten years and only for a single night, the last full moon before the first snow fall. To make up for being unable to show their beauty through the years they produce enough flowers in a single evening that would match the time they lost to act as their tears."
Kagome flashed a smile as she picked up a fallen blossom. Her eyes were filled with a bittersweet happiness. The flower was plucked from her hand and slender fingers placed it in the knot of hair behind her head.
"They are beautiful. Almost too beautiful. Sort of like you," she whispered. "Thank you for bringing me here."
At last it was time. For nearly a year he had thought over the miko. Hating her for her stubborn nature and independence, yet enjoying her company throughout the eighteen months she had travelled with them. He had watched her grow into the woman she was. He had been a part of her blossoming powers and wanted to continue to be beside her and ensure she wouldn't wither away.
"This Sesshomaru would like to make a proposal Kagome."
Sapphire eyes snapped over to the inu. She knew he only used her name in that particular tone when he wanted to speak to her about serious matters. Miko was a title that was uttered only when he was angry at her or in the presence of another.
"What is it Sesshomaru?"
"You have proven to be an asset to this Sesshomaru. Your recent insight to your future world will ensure that youkai will live to see the world you come from. So it is this Sesshomaru's wish to see you make it as well. Become this Sesshomaru's mate and take the title of Lady and Mother."
Kagome was shocked into silence. Her mind was running wild as bits of fluff from the leaves of the crying trees fell upon her. They tickled her skin as she furrowed her brow.
"I thought that the Northern Lord had sought for you to take his daughter as your mate," she stated, remembering the pain that pounded in her chest when she had heard the news.
A growl echoed before she could make out the words that followed. "This Sesshomaru knows what the Northern Lords seeks, but the beautiful flower my beast seeks is far more beautiful than any female could ever hope to blossom into."
Truth be told, she didn't know why she was fighting this. Long ago she had accepted that she would never be able to remain beside Sesshomaru. Being human made her think he would be off limits when she realized she was possibly falling for him. So it was more shock than anything else that spoke out in Kagome's mind. Nevertheless, she couldn't decide if this would be the right decision. Sesshomaru had proven to have completely different views when it came to specific matters. Not to mention they bickered many times over nothing at all sometimes. Of course she had picked up on many youkai traditions and understood some of the things that would be expected from her. But that didn't seem to ease her mind to settle on a positive answer.
"This Sesshomaru only ask that you think about it," Sesshomaru mumbled softly while running the soft pad of his finger over her bottom lip. "No answer shall be pried from you until you are ready to answer by your own free will. In the meantime this Sesshomaru had every intention of courting you until you otherwise state."
Feeling that enough had been said, his lips brushed against hers momentarily before he pulled away and began to walk along the trail they had been following only moments earlier. Kagome quickly realized she was falling behind and ran to catch up.
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Ja ne
Angelic Memories
© 2009