Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 40

Each prompt is labeled with which challenge it goes to.

Prompt: Kaffeeklatsch: an informal social gathering for coffee and conversation. (Obscure Word Challenge)

Sesshoumaru was the first to wake the next morning, his eyes popping open at first light. He would get a call confirming that the apartment was his sometime today and he didn't want to miss it. His phone was plugged in and sitting on Kagome's nightstand beside her own. Knowing he would hear it ring and that they probably wouldn't call so early, he closed his eyes and soaked in the feeling of holding the miko in his arms, skin to skin. The night before, she'd found his desire for her to stay naked amusing, but she'd humored him anyway, mostly because she enjoyed the feeling of being pressed against him as much as he did.

The taiyoukai drifted in and out of sleep for several hours until Kagome stirred in his arms. She let out a little moan as she slowly awoke and he pressed his lips to her shoulder. "Good morning," he murmured in her ear.

"Mmm," the miko hummed, shifting in his arms to stretch. He loved the sounds she made when she did so. It sounded almost like she was having an orgasm and it never failed to arouse him. Feeling his erection pressing against her back, Kagome laughed. "That thing is always poking me."

"And yet it never has," he replied smartly.

"Not yet, but I'm betting it will soon enough." Kagome wished she could see his face, because she was sure his expression in reaction to her words had to be classic.

"Soon?" he repeated. How soon was she thinking? He was aching to press his cock into her tight, hot body, but he didn't want them rushing into anything. If they moved too quickly, it could jeopardize their relationship and sex simply wasn't worth risking losing her. Of course, he was making arrangements for them to be able to live together and they'd been dating for less than a week. Who was he to judge what was too soon and what wasn't?

"Did you think I would make you lie in bed with me naked night after night and never give you any?" she asked in amusement.

"I do not expect it simply because you allow me the privilege of holding you while we sleep," he told her.

"And I expected that you wouldn't just expect it. That doesn't mean you don't deserve it. Besides," she said with a smile. "It's been a long time and I've never had a guy so impressively endowed before. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious."

Now it was Sesshoumaru's turn to smile. She wanted him, maybe even as much as he wanted her. How had he gotten so lucky? He had no idea, but he would never take her for granted. He would be thankful for every moment they spent together. He would savor each and every one, because the end could come at any point. He didn't expect her to want to stay with him forever, even though he definitely desired it. He still did not believe he was truly worthy of her and he expected that some day she would realize it. She might not be his forever, but he would cherish their time together until the end of time.

"So," Kagome started, rolling over in his arms. "I was thinking maybe we could go to the cafe for coffee and muffins before we do our laundry."

"That sounds acceptable," he replied, rubbing his nose along her cheek affectionately. "Do you have any studies to attend to?"

"Nope," the miko replied with a smile. "I finished up all my work waiting for you to get back yesterday. What about you?"

"Nothing pressing."

Prompt: Tenebrous: dark and/or gloomy. (Obscure Word Challenge)

The couple dressed in a comfortable silence, each finding it difficult to keep their eyes off of the other, before heading out. When they exited the front door of the dorms, Kagome looked up at the sky, frowning at what she saw.

"The weather looks like it's going to be nasty today. Hopefully it doesn't rain before we make it back to the dorms."

Sesshoumaru breathed in deeply, analyzing the scents on the air. "Rain is coming, but it will be a while before it starts."

"That's got to come in handy, being able to predict the weather by scent."

"It is something I do not even think of anymore. It just happens."

Kagome smiled. "Of course it does. You've been doing it your whole life. It's probably just as commonplace as breathing. It's still early, but it feels like fall is coming, and fast. You might need that hoodie of yours sooner than you'd think. Days like this, I like to curl up with a good book and hide from the world. What do you do when the weather is bad?"

"The weather does not usually affect me because I was always studying. Now that you have dragged me out of my room and into the world, I do not know."

"Well, you can always curl up with me," she said with a grin. "But when it gets really cold, you're going to be the one getting us coffee and treats in the morning. I hate the cold first thing in the morning."

"Am I not already the one collecting coffee and treats?"

Kagome laughed. "And I really appreciate it. No, I meant we wouldn't be doing this together in the morning, walking to the cafe together. The cold makes me want to stay under the covers until noon and the cold doesn't bother you, right?"

"The cold does not really affect me, no."

"Lucky demon."

Prompt: Kismet: fate or destiny. (Obscure Word Challenge)

"Being a demon comes with a number of inconveniences of our own," he told her.

"Oh, right. Name one."

"Now that he has awoken, my beast is constantly speaking in my mind, making demands of me. It is quickly growing irritating."

"What does he want? What kind of demands?"

Sesshoumaru stumbled over his own tongue for a moment. He couldn't tell her what his beast was demanding, because everything had to do with her! His primitive half was always encouraging him to touch her if he wasn't already, wanting him to get closer, to protect his claim. The beast wanted her to be wearing a courting mark, but only because he'd been told already that he could not simply make her his mate. He demanded that he punish other males for looking at her, and he always wanted to be dominant. That one, he decided, was safe enough to tell her.

"He believes that I should always be dominant. He wishes for me to do the kissing instead of being kissed. He complains when you are on top of me, wanting me to take the dominant position."

"But you don't do that."

"Because I refuse to follow his demands. I love the way you look sitting over me. I love the weight of your body. I love the way you look down at me with such heat. I enjoy it when you kiss me forcefully. You are still teaching me. I still have things to learn, and that cannot happen if I am trying to control everything."

"So you don't like being dominant?"

"No, I quite enjoy it," he explained. "I just don't think it has to be that way all the time. I love how small your body is compared to mine. I love when I kiss you and you melt against me, when you allow me control so easily. I love picking you up and carrying you and I adore the way your body feels beneath mine or caged within my arms."

Kagome smiled brightly, stopping their progress with their entwined hands so that she could kiss him. In just a few moments of conversation, he'd given her a great deal of insight on his feelings. She loved just how many times he'd used the word love. There were so many things he loved about their relationship, about her, it was a wonder he hadn't confessed his love for her already. She had a feeling he felt it. It was there in his eyes, this deep and all-encompassing look of adoration, of devotion.

In truth, she felt it as well, even though she knew that it should be too soon for that level of emotions. He was different and their relationship broke all the rules. They didn't need to be together for months for her to know she wanted to be with him forever and he'd made it clear that he would be with her until the end of time if she allowed it. They didn't need all that time to recognize that they loved each other, even if it took that long for them to confess it aloud.

Maybe it was something as simple as fate. Maybe she was meant to find him that day in the library, when she'd taken a different path than usual. If she'd turned left instead of right, she might never have met him, but something inside of her had led her to the right, had led her to him. She wasn't sure if she believed in destiny, if she could simply accept that as the reason they were together, but it was definitely there in the back of her mind, a possibility for why everything between them was always so right.

Prompt: How Pathetic Are We? (Soundtrack Challenge 2)

Her smile never wavered as they began walking once again and soon they were inside the cafe, looking over the baked goods through the glass. "I've been thinking about a blueberry muffin since I woke up. Here they have this crumble topping that is so good."

Sesshoumaru nodded, selecting a banana nut muffin for himself. When the cashier was ready for them, he gave their order, including Kagome's girly drink. One of these days he was going to have to find out what the barista was making for her because someday he might not be there to make her drink from memory. When he pulled out his wallet, the miko frowned and tried to hand him money. The taiyoukai shot her a look and she surrendered with a sigh, her shoulders sagging with frustration.

They didn't even need words for an argument they'd only had a handful of times. They each knew what the other would say. It made their relationship seem longer than it truly was, as if they were an old married couple set in their ways, repeating the same issues over and over again, knowing that they would reach the same outcome. It was as sweet as it was sad and the miko rolled her eyes, annoyed with his desire to always foot the bill.

Sesshoumaru was pleased when Kagome gave in without an argument. His instincts demanded that he take care of her, that he pay for everything, and he was finding it a tough instinct to fight. It was so much easier when she simply allowed him to pay. At least then his beast had one less thing to complain about.

Once they found a table, the taiyoukai pulled out his phone, checking to make sure he had reception, which had Kagome raising an eyebrow in curiosity. No one ever called him except his father, he'd told her that much, and he wouldn't be eagerly awaiting a call from the old dog. So what was he doing checking his phone? She'd noticed him doing the same thing before they'd left her room and she grew more curious every time he did so. It seemed almost compulsive and eventually Kagome lost the battle to keep from asking him.

"Who's going to call?" she asked, somewhat disturbed by the worry on his face at her question. Apparently it was something she wasn't supposed to know about, but if that was the case, he was doing a terrible job hiding it, probably because he'd never had anyone to hide things from before.

Sesshoumaru stammered nervously while searching for an acceptable answer, one that she might actually believe. It was rough going, with few ideas coming to mind. Eventually he sighed heavily, preparing to tell her the truth and ruin his surprise, but he was saved by his miko.

"If it's a secret, you don't have to tell me," she told him, letting him off the hook. She didn't like the idea that he was hiding something from her, but she knew instinctively that it wasn't something bad. He wasn't waiting for another girl to call. He wasn't sneaking around on her. When would he have even found the time? No, whatever it was, it was important to him that she not know, and so she allowed it. He would tell her eventually. She was sure of it. She just had to wait and hope she was around when the call came. Then she might get some kind of hint, by listening to his half of the conversation, about what was going on.