Crystal Kisses by hanyou-elf

Crystal Kisses

Sesshoumaru glided gracefully through the quiet forest. He stopped at the edge of a crystalline lake and inhaled deeply. It was nice to get away for a little bit, nice to have time to himself.

Walking to the edge of the lake, Sesshoumaru pulled off the cumbersome armor around his chest and the white kimono that hid his body from the elements. He stopped before he removed his shoes and the hakama, preferring to look into the lake, for safety's sake.

He stared into the crystal waters, admiring the silver-haired god who stared back at him. The cold amber eyes that danced in the water narrowed as they scrutinized the equally seductive youkai standing above them. He smiled a small smile, a smile that few would be graced with.

Slowly, he removed the hakama that hid the rest of his body from the world and slid into the lake. The mirror Sesshoumaru glided along with him, a ripply, perfect replica of the original.

Sinking to his knees, he lowered his body into the water. He leaned back and allowed the water to play over his body. He raised a claw and dragged it through his long hair, detangling it. He wanted to look perfect. The cold-blooded killer was possessed of an icy demeanor, but he still wanted to be sure that whosoever chanced upon his visage would be forever emblazoned with his image.

He came up for air, taking a deep breath and sank back down to relax upon a rock in the water. He smiled as his long, silver hair danced in the lazy current of the water.

"You know," he murmured to his reflection. "It should be wrong for one such as this Sesshoumaru to have so much beauty."

The watery taiyoukai only stared back in beautiful silence. The amber eyes of the liquid god danced in the sun's brilliant reflection.

"It is alright to be stunned into silence," Sesshoumaru murmured soothingly to the reflection. "This Sesshoumaru has that affect on many others. This Sesshoumaru is not surprised. The sun's light is good on his body, and makes him glimmer spectacularly in the sunlight."

He shivered as he felt the cold water caress his sculpted chest. "Time for this Sesshoumaru to take his leave. But, he shall return soon."

Sesshoumaru stood and walked in smooth steps out of the water, allowing the wind to dry him as he moved. He waited to be drier before he bothered to put on his hakama. Pulling his swords down from the tree branch he had stored them on, he pulled the Tokijin free from its sheath and smiled as a damp, silver-crowned god appeared before his eyes.

"Hello there," Sesshoumaru murmured softly, loud enough for only the two. Smiling a small, fake smile, he slid the katana slowly further out of its saya and smiled as the perfectly sculpted chest of his reflection appeared in the blade's perfectly shined blade. "This Sesshoumaru is pleased to see you again."

Sesshoumaru smiled at the beautiful god who was reflected back at him. "This Sesshoumaru is both gifted and cursed with this beauty," he lamented to his reflection.

Sliding the sword back into its saya, Sesshoumaru dressed quickly and left the serene clearing to return to his traveling with the impish vassal and talkative mortal.

* * * * * *

The cold water called to him. He wanted to take a bath again.

He had walked all day, allowing the breeze to gently lift his hair, making him look dramatic and stunning. He had posed several times in his walking when he caught the human and the vassal staring at him through their heavily lidded eyes. Not necessarily stopping, that would raise their suspicions.

When he had caught them staring, he had tilted his chin up a little bit higher, allowing the regal look he knew he had to come to fore. He had shaken his head so that the wind caught his hair without tangling it. And when he went into battle against that lowly youkai snake, he had leapt into the fight gracefully, drawing the Tokijin with a fluidity he had practiced.

Now though, now he just wanted a bath. A nice bath in which to revel in his glorious presence.

Striding through the forest, he followed his nose to the scent of the water and quickly disrobed. He liked to be naked, more of his glorious body could be seen that way. He only wore the loose clothing so that he could move freely. And so that when he did finally reveal his true appearance, he was a pleasing shock to those involved.

He slid into the lake, allowing the cold water to caress him and play on his muscles. He liked to be in the water, liked the privacy that he was given in the water.

Mostly, he liked to converse with the handsome reflection that stared back at him, but occasionally, he liked to believe that he finally had found an equal. Dipping his head below the surface of the water, he allowed the cold water to caress his body before he emerged.

Smiling at the reflection of the pale god below him, Sesshoumaru smiled sighed, allowing his head to fall back, weighed down by the heavy weight of his long, silver hair.

He stepped out of the lake, content to have seen his beautiful reflection.

Once he was dressed, he sauntered to the lake and peered out at it. The lake was not only home to his beautiful other half, it was also a very peaceful, quiet and serene place to linger. He stood above the lake, posing above it and letting the wind dance in his damp tresses.

He looked down, intent on saying goodbye to the beautiful double that lived in the lake and was caught, breathlessly, in the trap of the reflection.

"This Sesshoumaru finds that you are very attractive. This Sesshoumaru finds that he is pleased with you. Are you pleased with this Sesshoumaru?" he asked, his smooth voice dancing in the quiet of the clearing.

The reflection said nothing and Sesshoumaru, unable to help himself, kneeled before the lake and leaned over. "This Sesshoumaru is very happy to be with you," he murmured as he leaned over and attempted to place a kiss on the reflection's thin, beautiful face. He leaned over the lake and....