1,000 Paper Cranes by Aurora Antheia Raine

Chapter Eleven: Denials

| 1,000 Paper Cranes |

 | Aurora Antheia Raine | Sesshoumaru&Kagome4Ever |

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Disclaimer ;; I do not own Inuyasha.

Rated ;; MA for sexual situations, language, and possible violence.

Author's Note ;; Right... so, I know. *Smacks hand* Bad Theia! Six months this time. Forgive me? ^^; RL severely got in the way this time. My Grandma has Cancer and the doctors are counting down the time. It's been hard on me so that's why this chapter is so late. Eh... about the chapter; lemony goodness... so maybe that'll make up for it? Tehehe.

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Chapter Eleven: Denials

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With a loud, infuriated growl, Sesshoumaru ripped off his silk tie from around his neck and flung it as hard as he could against the wall. Chest heaving with his labored breathing and clenched jaw, he sidestepped the tie that had only fluttered innocently to the floor and stalked further into his room. He ran his claws through his silvery locks with agitation.

He could not believe his lack of self control. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Kagome with her tussled hair, lidded eyes, and full cerise lips, swollen from his passion. His heart would lurch with something he had not felt in a long time and he would grow even more disgusted at himself.

Even after all these years and his silent sufferings of a wounded heart, Sesshoumaru still could not resist the emotional pull of a woman. Even now, just a few minutes after dropping Kagome off at home from the gala, he wanted nothing more than to head right back and haul her off to his bed - or have himself land in hers. Having her writhing beneath his hard body in pure desire had been the only thing he could think of every time Kagome had gasped and moaned against his eager lips.

His imagination had been so realistic while his mouth plundered hers that he had felt his member stirring to life. He had been gentle with her, caressing her soft cheek and tangling his claws in her mane of thick, silky hair. Then, he had been more demanding as he dominated the kiss and Kagome, the naïve and innocent woman he knew her as, had responded so positively and so eagerly, he had been taken by surprise. But he had been secretly pleased as well since he, as a demon, was not prone to a gentler side when it came to carnal pleasures.

But he should have known better than to initiate something that would make Kagome misunderstand his actions and expect something from him that he could not give.

And it was, indeed, something he could not give her. He knew, without a doubt, that anything further between them would never last. Kagura had been proof of that.

He didn’t need a woman in his life to feel complete. He had spent years to begin the reign of his empire in the music industry and that should be the most important thing in his life. He wanted to prove to all the people who had stepped on him in the past wrong. He wanted to flaunt his success in their face until they wept. He could not do that if he allowed a woman to weaken him - especially not a innocent, sweet, and kind-hearted woman like Kagome.

Stripping himself of his suit, Sesshoumaru headed for the shower, determined to wash the scent of Kagome from his skin and, in the process, from his heart and mind.

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Kagome squealed loudly as she fell backwards upon her bed, arms and legs kicking and thrashing in excitement. The satin of her gown rustled beneath her and it only served to remind her of her wonderfully romantic night with Sesshoumaru. Never had she thought that he would return her affections for him in the same multitude. He had definitely proved her wrong though.

Heart thudding deep within her chest, she wondered how things would change at the company. Would they have to hide their relationship or would Sesshoumaru openly acknowledge them? Could they even be considered in a relationship or heading towards one? Was she even allowed to be a contestant and Sesshoumaru’s girlfriend at the same time?

There were so many questions whirling through her mind and none she had the answers to. She needed to talk to Sesshoumaru, she realized, and the sooner the better.  

With a content sigh, Kagome rolled onto her stomach and laid her cheek against her comforter, allowing herself the privilege of closing her eyes and recalling their fervent kiss in precise details.

That night, Kagome fell asleep in her dress with a smile on her face, dreaming of Sesshoumaru.

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When Kagome walked into Taisho Records the next morning with a bounce in her step while humming a little, upbeat tune, the crowd’s jaw dropped open in stunned stupor. After spending every morning together five days a week for the past few months, it was a well known fact that Kagome was not a morning person. The drastic difference in her attitude was puzzling and almost everyone in the room tried to find a reason behind her sudden change without being so blunt as to simply ask.

No one could come up with a valid reason except for Rin and Shippo who just smiled at each other secretively. They didn’t know for a fact what was going on with their friend, but after Sesshoumaru had showed up at her house, they had an inkling he had something to do with her happiness.

Still, they weren’t going to say anything. They didn’t even know if whatever it was that was going on between them was allowed. It didn’t take long, though, for everyone’s unspoken questions to be forgotten as Myouga made his appearance and they all got to work.

They had received official word that the next competition would take place in two weeks time in front of a panel of judges, in addition to an audience. Each judge had been carefully selected from all over Japan and it was rumored that after the second elimination, everyone would be split up into groups and be assigned a judge to prepare for their third performance. This time, it would be the judge’s opinion that mattered and the audience would only serve to create a fan base for each contestant.

From here on out, it would only continue to become more difficult but Kagome was more than ready. The way she had been rescued from humiliation at the first competition still burned brightly within her mind and the events of the gala still made her giddy. Sesshoumaru was her savior in so many ways and she only hoped that he would continue to be so. He had already done so much for her and he had done even more by taking her to the gala. She knew she had already won over so many important people in the music industry from personality alone and now she had to show those people she had the musical talent to go with the rest of her image.

Furrowing her eyebrows in concentrate as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, she tried to roll her hips the way Ayame had taught her but somehow, it just didn’t look as good as she knew it should. Ayame had been raised as a dancer so sensually smooth movements were a breeze but for Kagome, it was a different story.

Taking a moment to release the tension in her muscles, Kagome inhaled then exhaled deeply before trying again. Immediately, she frowned as discouragement flooded her system. With a weary sigh, her eyes slid to the others in the studio to check on their progress. Most of them were doing well but Ayame clearly surpassed everyone else and she found herself mesmerized by Ayame’s movements.

As if feeling her gaze, Ayame turned her head to stare at Kagome for a moment before flashing her a knowing smile. Wordlessly, she sauntered over to where Kagome was, stretching as she walked, until she came to a stop before her.

“Trouble?”

“I just can’t seem to get it,” Kagome admitted, her frustration clearly showing upon her face. “I don’t have the ability to dance like you do.”

“Honey, dancing the way I do comes from long years of grueling practice,” Ayame said with a quick, dismissive wave of her hand, “show me what you’re doing.”

Biting her bottom lip in concentration, Kagome tried to move her body the way she had been taught but her movements felt stiff and awkward. She knew it would be even worse from a viewer’s standpoint and she glanced at Ayame with unsure eyes.

“Alright, I see your problem,” Ayame declared and relief flooded through Kagome’s system. Maybe she wouldn’t be so hopeless after all.

“Now, the song you’ve chosen is an upbeat one, right?”

At that, Kagome nodded in agreement.

“I think it would help you a lot if you practiced your dance moves in tune with the song you’ve chosen. That’ll let you listen to the song exactly the way it’s sung and you can just move accordingly,” Ayame explained, “do you have the song on your iPod?”

Nodding again, Kagome quickly tapped through her artist list until she pulled up the song and handed it to her.

“Perfect,” she replied with a beam before she practically skipped towards the speaker while Kagome followed behind her slowly.

Plugging the iPod into the speaker, Ayame turned the volume up to where they could hear it while still being quiet enough to not disturb everyone else while they practiced.

“Alright. Now try your moves again, but this time, try to keep it in tune with the music,” Ayame instructed before standing back to observe how Kagome moved.

Nervously, Kagome tapped her foot to the beat until she heard her starting point.

“So, 1. 2. 3. 4. hitotsu zutsu / 1. 2. Step, you sou yatte / kimi no koto o shitte ikitai no”

Remembering what Ayame had taught her, Kagome moved with feigned confidence, exaggerating some of her moves to match the beats and rhythms. She swayed and popped and spun when she needed to and somehow, she found it a lot easier to dance this time around. She knew she still needed a lot of practice but she was still pleased because she could feel the improvement from dancing to the music to dancing without it.

Almost all too soon, the music was cut off and Kagome turned to look at Ayame, waiting for what she had to say.

“That wasn’t too bad actually,” she praised, looking mildly surprised. “The only thing I would make certain of, though, is to pop your hips out a little bit more. You can make it more dramatic without it looking bad.”

To prove her point, Ayame swayed her hips to mimic the way Kagome had moved. Then she danced a short stanza of the song in the way she envisioned would look best. Understanding what she was trying to say, Kagome nodded slowly in concentration, attempting to redo the step.

“Just practice that in addition to everything else and I think you’ll do great,” Ayame said with a friendly smile.

“Thanks so much for your help. I would be so lost without you,” Kagome replied gratefully, a flash of relief sparkling in her eyes.

Starting the music over, Kagome continued to practice with renewed vigor as Ayame went back to her corner to practice her own upcoming performance.

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Kagome frowned as she zipped up her jacket. Glancing at her watch for the hundredth time in the past hour, she saw it was already half passed eight and not once today had she seen Sesshoumaru.

She had thought that he would stop by the studio today to check on their progress and maybe to see her, but that hadn’t happened. Then she thought maybe he’d be there when practice let out at six o’clock but he hadn’t been there either. Thinking that perhaps he had meetings he could not get away from, she stalled and continued to practice until eight, but there were still no signs of him. Now, she had waited for an additional half an hour, but there was still no Sesshoumaru.

Where was he? Did he even show up for work today? She wanted to see him but did she dare intrude upon him in his office? Should she just wait until he decided to look for her? Tucking the strap of her purse more securely upon her shoulder, she exited the locker room and paused.

To the left where Sesshoumaru’s office is… or to the right where the door is?

Kagome took two small steps towards the right then paused again to think.

“Damn it all to hell,” she whispered under her breath, “I’ve always been told I was stubborn. I might as well live up to my reputation.”

Mind made up, she walked with determination to the left, refusing to listen to the uncertainty in her inner voice that told her to just go home.

It was so quiet, her footsteps echoed and for a brief moment, Kagome thought perhaps Sesshoumaru had left work long ago. The thought that maybe he didn’t even show up for work today crossed her mind again. Both ideas were quickly dashed when she saw the thin stream of light on the floor coming from the crack in his doorway.

Suddenly hesitating again, Kagome slowly brought a hand up and after a moment, knocked twice on his door. She waited for a response but none came. Just as she was prepared to knock again, she heard his voice telling her, almost wearily, to enter.

She turned the handle and pushed the door open before stepping inside. Her eyes found him immediately and she frowned at how he was massaging his temples. He must have had a stressful day, she thought to herself as she stepped closer to him. Her eyes ran across his desk to find it cluttered with paperwork and his laptop was open on one corner of his desk. Multiple pens were scattered about and numerous brightly colored post-it notes stood out amongst the sea of black and white.

Even the couch on the opposite end of the office was littered with paperwork. If she didn’t know better, she would have assumed that a hurricane had torn through the room.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, without looking at her, his voice laced with a tinge of frostiness.

Taken aback by his tone of voice, Kagome stared at him uncertainly. “I didn’t see you at all today is all,” she replied softly.

“We often go for long periods without associating with one another,” Sesshoumaru pointed out nonchalantly.

“Yes, but that was before…,” she said, trailing off slowly.

“Before what?” he asked, finally lifting his head up to meet her gaze, “before the gala? The kiss?”

“I…”

“Let’s get one thing straight, Higurashi,” Sesshoumaru continued as he stood up to face her fully, “what happened was a mistake. Nothing more. I manipulated you to attend the gala with me. Everything else was an error in judgment that will never occur again.”

She bit her bottom lip as a wave of hurt washed over her. Each word he had spoken stung like he had taken a sharp object to her heart and pierced at it repeatedly. Pushing back the tears that were blurring her vision, she slowly walked around his desk until she came to a stop beside his chair. She was silent as she observed him, furiously blinking back the tears.

He grew tense as she approached him. His jaw was clenched tightly as he gritted his teeth together and his hands were balled into tight fists. His entire body was rigid as he tried to stare her down, his golden eyes flashing with anger, but Kagome persisted.

“Why won’t you give us a chance, Sesshoumaru?” Kagome asked, as the tears rolled down her cheeks, lingered at her jaw, then dripped silently onto her zipper hoodie.

“There is no ‘us’,” he growled, his hands tightening even further at his side.

“There could be,” she argued, willing her voice not to tremor, “but only if you’re willing to give it, give us, a chance. A man doesn’t kiss someone like that without some passion and emotion inside him.”

“It is not possible,” he replied curtly, “we are not suitable for each other.”

Kagome fell silent for a moment, then she nodded slowly and took another step forward, closing the distance between her and Sesshoumaru. Enunciating each syllable slowly and clearly, she whispered to him, “I won’t hurt you like Kagura did.”

She barely had the time to register his movements before he turned and slammed her back against the wall. One hand gripped onto her shoulder tight enough to make her wince and the other fisted hand was embedded into the wall a mere inch from her startled face. His breathing was ragged and pink rimmed his eyes. His mouth was pursed back in a ferocious growl as he stared at her with burning hatred.

How dare she bring up that whore. How dare she say that bitch’s name. The fury he felt at that very moment was so blinding, his hands nearly shook with the force of it.

“Leave!” he snapped, pushing his fist further inside the hole in the wall he had created.

A small swell of fear rose within her, but Kagome tilted her face up in stubbornness. “I’m not afraid of you,” she whispered softly, “never.”

“You lie,” he growled, his voice an octave lower than usual, “I can smell your fear.”

“You won’t hurt me,” Kagome stated confidently.

He narrowed his eyes at her but didn’t speak. His grip on her shoulder slowly loosened until his arm fell back down to his side. His other hand; however, did not move, even as trails of crimson red blood oozed from the site of impact to drip downwards onto the ground. Slowly, she brought her hand up to rest upon his taunt arm; both sapphire and gold eyes mesmerized by her cautious movements.

When he didn’t recoil away from her feather light touch, she rested the weight of her hand more heavily upon his arm, knowing that he could feel the warmth of her through his dress shirt sleeve. He still didn’t flinch away nor did he give any indication that it was an unwelcome gesture. Taking that as a positive sign, she wrapped her fingers firmly around him and gave him a reassuring squeeze.

He exhaled sharply but still didn’t move. With a small smile, Kagome raised her other hand to cup his smooth cheek and he subconsciously leaned into her touch. She caressed him gently with the pads of her fingertips and his eyes fluttered closed against his will.

“Stop fighting this,” she whispered as she kissed him lightly, treating him as though he were a fragile prized possession, “stop fighting us.”

She brushed her lips against his again and took her time exploring his unmoving mouth with hers as he stood still as a statue, waiting her next form of action. She coaxed and teased him with her petal soft lips, both mouths closed but far from innocent. He didn’t respond to her but she continued patiently in hopes of persuading him to follow his hidden emotions.

Slowly, she felt the tension leaving his body and heard his small sigh of defeat. His clawed hands moved swiftly to grip at her upper arms and she felt an excited tingle shoot down her spine as he pushed her back firmly against the wall. Pressing himself into her, he dominated the kiss as she ignited his passion and broke the dam on his desire. He devoured her with lips and tongue and all Kagome could do was cling onto him and return his affections fervently.

She could feel the growing hardness of his desire pressing against her belly and another tingle shot through her to gather at the apex between her thighs. Wanting to push herself even closer to him, she hooked a lean leg behind his waist and moaned into Sesshoumaru’s mouth as his length brushed against her heated core.

Tearing her mouth from his as her lungs threatened to burst, all she could do was pant for breath as her head swam with intense desire. Her entire body felt alive and she stifled a gasp as Sesshoumaru ground himself into her. His hands roamed over her breasts to teasingly pinch at her hardened nipples before they trailed down to her hips, leaving behind a burning sensation that only his touch could bring.

In one swift movement, he had her jeans unbuttoned and one finger was running along the edge of it teasingly. She whimpered and his hand slipped inside the waistband of her panties. His fingers met with warm, slippery wetness and he groaned at the sensation.

“You’re so wet for me,” Sesshoumaru whispered huskily, his fingers parting her folds to find her swollen pearl. At the first touch of his finger against the hidden jewel, Kagome cried out in pleasure, her hands fisting his shirt as she shuddered at the way his hands made her feel.

His hot, molten gaze caressed every inch of her face, etching the way she looked mid-passion into his mind. His throbbing erection surged at the thought of seeing her like this on a daily basis and while his fingers pressed against her slowly - teasingly, he licked the shell of her ear with the tip of his tongue.

“I saw you today,” he whispered, his warm breath tickling her, “dancing in the studio. The way you moved had me so hard, I couldn’t think of anything but you all day.”

“Sesshoumaru,” Kagome whimpered, his words making her feel hot all over. Breathy moans escaped her parted lips as she bucked her hips against his fingers frantically as he sped up his movements. His lips dropped to her neck and he left open mouthed kisses upon her heated flesh as she gasped soundlessly.

“You have made me weak,” he continued, his other hand moving to pull at her taunt nipples through her clothing, “and for that, I will make you pay.”

With one last flick to her clit, he suddenly plunged his fingers deep inside her, forcing a loud cry to erupt from Kagome’s throat. Her entire body quivered as Sesshoumaru groaned at the tightness of her. He pumped into her with long, deep strokes, sending her teetering on the edge, then paused, smirking at her moan of frustration. Just as she had gotten off her high, he resumed thrusting his heavily coated fingers into her with short, fast strokes.

The friction was near unbearable for Kagome and her cries of ecstasy had Sesshoumaru’s cock pulsing wildly. He could feel the wet stain in his pants as she began chanting his name like a mantra. Her legs shook and her muscles tensed. Her cries grew louder and Sesshoumaru moved faster.

With one last thrust of his fingers as his thumb simultaneously pressed up hard into her clit, Kagome exploded with a wail, her walls tightening around his fingers as her entire frame shook with the force of her climax. The proof of her arousal slid down her inner thighs as Sesshoumaru removed himself from inside her, catching Kagome just as her legs crumpled out from beneath her.

“If that was making me pay,” Kagome said between pants, shakily brushing her sweat matted hair out of her face, “then you can make me pay any day.”

“Higurashi, we are far from done,” Sesshoumaru stated matter-of-factly, his hands moving swiftly to unbuckle his belt. Letting his pants drop, he picked her up and laid her down on his desk, swiping all his paperwork carelessly to the floor.

Gazing at Sesshoumaru with his hard length in his hands, Kagome could feel the familiar jolt of pleasure running down her spine and the surge of heat to her center.

“Does this mean there’s an ‘us’ now?” Kagome asked breathily.

His eyes darkened in pure desire and the only reply Sesshoumaru gave was to pound into her tight, moist cavern as she screamed her approval.

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End Chapter~

- Theia