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Longing (Prompt #09) | Inuyasha
Collection Title: Fleeting
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: T
Summary: Right now, this is just a collection of various oneshots/drabbles for this prompt table. There is currently no plan for a overarching storyline that I'm working towards (for a change, LOL). We'll see how the prompts work themselves out, though - I never say never :)
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un_love_you Prompt Table here. Prompt for this piece is: #09: “Always wondered what this’d be like.”
Title: Longing
Rating: T (a hint of citrus)
Word Count: 2071
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Summary: Lust turns to longing when Kagome encounters a vulnerable Sesshoumaru.
Author's Note: Another entry into the universe that started with Come My Way and continued in Valor. I'm still not committed to turning all of the prompts into -one- cohesive story, but this universe is proving quite fun to work in!
Disclaimer: The Inuyasha concept, story, and characters are copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media.
~*~
Kagome sighed as she stared at the phone. Boys suck, she silently groused.
Not that she felt anything less than pathetic in this moment anyway. Here it was, Friday night, and she was sitting by the phone, waiting for a guy to call her up and ask her out. Admittedly, it wasn’t just any guy: Koga was something of a manwhore, but his smile was powerful enough to melt her into a puddle of doe-eyed twelve-year-old all over again.
I need to give up on the flakes, she told herself as the phone continued to defy her. They are not worth the frustration. Sure, Koga wasn’t the great love of her life, but he was all the action she’d seen in the last couple of months. Following her humiliating exit from the Halloween party, she was something of an outcast among her social set. The desperate end-of-the-semester crunch had softened the blow, but now that classes were over and most of the students were heading home for winter break, the loneliness resurfaced.
Losing a huge chunk of her social network wasn’t the only humiliating outcome of that horrible Halloween. She’d also managed to botch any chance she had with her hot-as-fuck but arrogant-as-hell roommate. Her memories of that night were mostly hazy…except, of course, her failed seduction attempt, which stood out in crystal clear, stark relief. He hadn’t rejected her outright, but perhaps what he had done – giving her a flicker of hope – was even crueler.
They never spoke about that evening, but things hadn’t been the same between them since. Lost to her in the mad dash to finish the semester was how he managed to build yet another barrier around himself, but she looked up one day and there it was.
There was no stopping her crush, though: it grew and grew and grew, in spite of not having any rational nourishment.
Yes, she had lots of reasons to feel pathetic right now.
The slam of the apartment’s door startled her from her thoughts. She glanced up over the back of the common room sofa to see Sesshoumaru, as if she’d summoned him by the power of her thoughts. Covertly, she watched as he stripped out of his winter gear and hung it on the hooks in the hallway.
He picked up his bag and headed towards the hallway that led to their bedrooms, stopping short when he realized he was not alone. “You’re still here?” he asked, rather incredulously.
She furrowed her brow as she regarded him. “I live here too, you know,” she replied, curling up under her blanket.
He graced her with a rare smile. “That’s not what I meant,” he said. “I’m just surprised you’re here, instead of out with your…friends.”
She cast another wry look at the phone. “It’s hard to go out and have fun when nobody wants you.”
He didn’t respond to that, but his smile withered away. After a long moment, he spoke again. “Are you going home for the break?”
“No,” she sighed. “My family is taking yet another ski vacation, but I opted out. And you?”
“I can’t afford to,” he said. “My thesis is kicking my ass, and my advisor wants to see the next chapter in two weeks.” He rubbed his eyes. “I haven’t even started the research for it yet.”
Kagome’s wounded pride softened as she looked at him, shoulders slumped in exhaustion. At least her work was over for the duration; she dreaded the very idea of a master’s program if it meant working overtime like this. He’d been working long nights for the last three weeks just getting this last chapter prepared, and by the looks of things, it hadn’t gone over very well.
“Well, I’m going to bed,” he announced, tightening the grip on his bag and turning on his heel.
“Wait!” she cried, jumping up from her perch.
He looked back at her questioningly, and she felt her words stick to the back of her throat.
“Do you at least have time for a cup of tea?”
Her heart began to pick up speed as he contemplated her offer. Finally – after what seemed like forever – his shoulders softened and he dropped his bag. “Sure,” he agreed, albeit tiredly.
“Great!” she chirped, moving round to guide him over to the sofa. He laughed softly as she pushed him down and draped her blanket over him. “You just sit here and relax, and I’ll be right back.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied dutifully, and she laughed as she walked into their small kitchen.
Tea was her weakness: she drank it no matter what the weather, enjoying everything from standard black tea to more exotic herbal infusions. She was a purist, buying loose tea whenever possible – but she was also lazy, and indulged in tea bags for convenience. As such, her collection was rather vast, and she pored over it for something appropriate. Considering the weather, the season, and the reason, she finally settled on peppermint. It was not only festive, but also reputed for its relaxing qualities.
Ten minutes later she reappeared in the common room, carrying a tray with two steaming mugs and a plate of fruit bars. Sesshoumaru’s head was tilted away from her as she walked into the room, so she eased the tray onto the small table in front of him.
“It’s ready,” she announced, picking up one of the mugs, turning to hand it to him.
He was fast asleep, his head resting on the back of the sofa, his chest rising and falling softly.
Kagome smiled and sat next to him, curling her legs under herself. She didn’t have to heart to wake him up, considering how exhausted he’d been lately. Even now, under the guise of sleep, he looked worn out. For a moment, she wondered just how late into the night he’d been working of late.
She sipped the tea, relishing the warmth that washed through her. She’d never really had the opportunity to study him up close like this, at least not while sober. He was absolutely beautiful, somehow managing to pull off the combination of pale skin and silvery hair without looking inherently sickly. His features, so sharp and angular when awake, were somehow softer in repose. The line of his brow, the turn of his nose, the shape of his mouth belied a fine-boned delicacy usually reserved only for the leisurely aristocratic.
She put her mug back on the tray. She knew she should take these things back to the kitchen and put them away, just like she knew she should wake him up and pack him off to bed, but she didn’t. She wanted to stay exactly where she was, studying him, nursing her hopeless crush.
She sank back against the cushions, laying her head on the cushion next to his. The long locks of his hair spilled over his eyes, covering his cheek, shining softly in the overhead light. She bit her lip as she stared, trying to calculate whether touching him would wake him up. From what she could discern in these few short months living with him, he was a heavy sleeper. Or at least, he never showed signs of being disturbed when she came home late…or brought someone over to spend the night.
You really are pathetic, she admonished herself, feeling guilty at the thought of touching him – even if it was innocently – while he was asleep. He’d never given her any indication that he felt anything beyond grudging friendship for her. Must she really stoop so low as this, to indulge in her crush while he was unawares?
At the same time, the risk of waking him up sent a thrill down her spine. What would he do if he woke up and found her hands on him?
Only one way to find out, she mused, suddenly bold.
Even so, the first sweep of her hand was short, tentative. When he didn’t stir, she dared to twine her fingers through the silky strands of his hair. Soon enough she was combing through the lengthy locks, starting at his temple and moving all the way over his shoulder. These gentle ministrations brought her body closer to his, and drew the inner warmth from the tea outward, cloaking her.
His head slipped down, moving closer to hers. She glanced up into his face, her roving hand ceasing its movements momentarily. She watched him closely, but the pattern of his breathing never broke.
Her gaze lowered, noting the blanket that covered him. She had the overwhelming urge to burrow under it and press herself against him, spoon-style. Even though most of her fantasies involved doing far less innocent things to him under a set of sheets, she’d always wondered what it would be like to be cuddled by him, held softly but firmly, in silent reassurance.
Her mother always said cuddling made anything and everything instantly better, from wounded knees to broken hearts.
I suppose he hasn’t broken my heart yet, she thought, her eyes rising again to his face. She untangled her hand from his hair and touched him directly. Her fingers lightly traced the arch of his brow, the line of his nose, the gentle swell of his cheek.
She was overwhelmed by something swift and painful then, some unknown feeling underpinned by desire and heat. As her fingers found the contours of his mouth, she found her own breath shuttering in her lungs. She wanted him, yes, but she’d known that for months now. No, only now was she realizing that she wanted to give (and receive) not only pleasure, but comfort as well.
She felt giddy and stupid and pathetic and lonely all at once – so close to him, and yet so far from where she truly wanted to be. She knew he thought of her as reckless and a little irresponsible, maybe a bit shallow and self-absorbed, like the people she socialized with.
She also knew he found her attractive, even if he’d never said as much or acted on it. Along with the lingering humiliation of Halloween night, she remembered the look in his eyes when she invited him out, as well as when she attempted to kiss him.
And if she kissed him now…?
Maybe I am pathetic, she told herself as she eyed him, emotions tumbling around her head and her heart. Even though he’s asleep…and he’ll never know…I still want to.
She took a deep breath and, before she could talk herself out of it, pressed her mouth to his, bracing her hand on the nape of his neck. She felt the blood rushing through her veins, her stomach doing a slow turn, the rest of her body tensing in anticipation.
Tears welled behind her eyes as the gentle pressure of her lips went unreturned.
She pulled away, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of her mouth. It was satisfying and heartbreaking all at once, but it had somehow eased the uneasy longing that filled her – just as she knew it would.
She took another deep breath and released it slowly, opening her eyes to face him once again. He was beautiful…boyish…exhausted…and currently beyond her reach.
But hopefully, not forever.
She stood up and leaned over him. He’d be irritated if he didn’t have a decent night’s sleep, that much she did know from past experience. “Come on, Sesshoumaru, wake up,” she urged, shaking his shoulder.
When he didn’t move, she smirked. Don’t tempt me, she thought wryly, finding the idea of falling into his lap and using another method of arousal all too appealing. Checking that, she pressed a light kiss to his temple and murmured her command in his ear.
A slight groan escaped him as he stirred awake. “Mm, peppermint,” he sighed, inclining his head towards her as she retreated. His eyes fluttered open, still bleary with sleep.
“Time for bed, mister,” she teased, picking up the tray.
He stared at her for a full moment before smiling. “Yes, ma’am,” he replied wearily, picking himself up and folding her blanket into a neat pile.
He started off down the hall, reaching for his forgotten bag. He took a few steps and turned back, giving her a thoughtful glance.
“Just a word of caution, Kagome: don’t start something you don’t intend to finish.”
She could only stare after him, knuckles white as she clutched the tray, and wonder…
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: T
Summary: Right now, this is just a collection of various oneshots/drabbles for this prompt table. There is currently no plan for a overarching storyline that I'm working towards (for a change, LOL). We'll see how the prompts work themselves out, though - I never say never :)
un_love_you Prompt Table here. Prompt for this piece is: #09: “Always wondered what this’d be like.”Title: Longing
Rating: T (a hint of citrus)
Word Count: 2071
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Summary: Lust turns to longing when Kagome encounters a vulnerable Sesshoumaru.
Author's Note: Another entry into the universe that started with Come My Way and continued in Valor. I'm still not committed to turning all of the prompts into -one- cohesive story, but this universe is proving quite fun to work in!
Disclaimer: The Inuyasha concept, story, and characters are copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media.
Kagome sighed as she stared at the phone. Boys suck, she silently groused.
Not that she felt anything less than pathetic in this moment anyway. Here it was, Friday night, and she was sitting by the phone, waiting for a guy to call her up and ask her out. Admittedly, it wasn’t just any guy: Koga was something of a manwhore, but his smile was powerful enough to melt her into a puddle of doe-eyed twelve-year-old all over again.
I need to give up on the flakes, she told herself as the phone continued to defy her. They are not worth the frustration. Sure, Koga wasn’t the great love of her life, but he was all the action she’d seen in the last couple of months. Following her humiliating exit from the Halloween party, she was something of an outcast among her social set. The desperate end-of-the-semester crunch had softened the blow, but now that classes were over and most of the students were heading home for winter break, the loneliness resurfaced.
Losing a huge chunk of her social network wasn’t the only humiliating outcome of that horrible Halloween. She’d also managed to botch any chance she had with her hot-as-fuck but arrogant-as-hell roommate. Her memories of that night were mostly hazy…except, of course, her failed seduction attempt, which stood out in crystal clear, stark relief. He hadn’t rejected her outright, but perhaps what he had done – giving her a flicker of hope – was even crueler.
They never spoke about that evening, but things hadn’t been the same between them since. Lost to her in the mad dash to finish the semester was how he managed to build yet another barrier around himself, but she looked up one day and there it was.
There was no stopping her crush, though: it grew and grew and grew, in spite of not having any rational nourishment.
Yes, she had lots of reasons to feel pathetic right now.
The slam of the apartment’s door startled her from her thoughts. She glanced up over the back of the common room sofa to see Sesshoumaru, as if she’d summoned him by the power of her thoughts. Covertly, she watched as he stripped out of his winter gear and hung it on the hooks in the hallway.
He picked up his bag and headed towards the hallway that led to their bedrooms, stopping short when he realized he was not alone. “You’re still here?” he asked, rather incredulously.
She furrowed her brow as she regarded him. “I live here too, you know,” she replied, curling up under her blanket.
He graced her with a rare smile. “That’s not what I meant,” he said. “I’m just surprised you’re here, instead of out with your…friends.”
She cast another wry look at the phone. “It’s hard to go out and have fun when nobody wants you.”
He didn’t respond to that, but his smile withered away. After a long moment, he spoke again. “Are you going home for the break?”
“No,” she sighed. “My family is taking yet another ski vacation, but I opted out. And you?”
“I can’t afford to,” he said. “My thesis is kicking my ass, and my advisor wants to see the next chapter in two weeks.” He rubbed his eyes. “I haven’t even started the research for it yet.”
Kagome’s wounded pride softened as she looked at him, shoulders slumped in exhaustion. At least her work was over for the duration; she dreaded the very idea of a master’s program if it meant working overtime like this. He’d been working long nights for the last three weeks just getting this last chapter prepared, and by the looks of things, it hadn’t gone over very well.
“Well, I’m going to bed,” he announced, tightening the grip on his bag and turning on his heel.
“Wait!” she cried, jumping up from her perch.
He looked back at her questioningly, and she felt her words stick to the back of her throat.
“Do you at least have time for a cup of tea?”
Her heart began to pick up speed as he contemplated her offer. Finally – after what seemed like forever – his shoulders softened and he dropped his bag. “Sure,” he agreed, albeit tiredly.
“Great!” she chirped, moving round to guide him over to the sofa. He laughed softly as she pushed him down and draped her blanket over him. “You just sit here and relax, and I’ll be right back.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied dutifully, and she laughed as she walked into their small kitchen.
Tea was her weakness: she drank it no matter what the weather, enjoying everything from standard black tea to more exotic herbal infusions. She was a purist, buying loose tea whenever possible – but she was also lazy, and indulged in tea bags for convenience. As such, her collection was rather vast, and she pored over it for something appropriate. Considering the weather, the season, and the reason, she finally settled on peppermint. It was not only festive, but also reputed for its relaxing qualities.
Ten minutes later she reappeared in the common room, carrying a tray with two steaming mugs and a plate of fruit bars. Sesshoumaru’s head was tilted away from her as she walked into the room, so she eased the tray onto the small table in front of him.
“It’s ready,” she announced, picking up one of the mugs, turning to hand it to him.
He was fast asleep, his head resting on the back of the sofa, his chest rising and falling softly.
Kagome smiled and sat next to him, curling her legs under herself. She didn’t have to heart to wake him up, considering how exhausted he’d been lately. Even now, under the guise of sleep, he looked worn out. For a moment, she wondered just how late into the night he’d been working of late.
She sipped the tea, relishing the warmth that washed through her. She’d never really had the opportunity to study him up close like this, at least not while sober. He was absolutely beautiful, somehow managing to pull off the combination of pale skin and silvery hair without looking inherently sickly. His features, so sharp and angular when awake, were somehow softer in repose. The line of his brow, the turn of his nose, the shape of his mouth belied a fine-boned delicacy usually reserved only for the leisurely aristocratic.
She put her mug back on the tray. She knew she should take these things back to the kitchen and put them away, just like she knew she should wake him up and pack him off to bed, but she didn’t. She wanted to stay exactly where she was, studying him, nursing her hopeless crush.
She sank back against the cushions, laying her head on the cushion next to his. The long locks of his hair spilled over his eyes, covering his cheek, shining softly in the overhead light. She bit her lip as she stared, trying to calculate whether touching him would wake him up. From what she could discern in these few short months living with him, he was a heavy sleeper. Or at least, he never showed signs of being disturbed when she came home late…or brought someone over to spend the night.
You really are pathetic, she admonished herself, feeling guilty at the thought of touching him – even if it was innocently – while he was asleep. He’d never given her any indication that he felt anything beyond grudging friendship for her. Must she really stoop so low as this, to indulge in her crush while he was unawares?
At the same time, the risk of waking him up sent a thrill down her spine. What would he do if he woke up and found her hands on him?
Only one way to find out, she mused, suddenly bold.
Even so, the first sweep of her hand was short, tentative. When he didn’t stir, she dared to twine her fingers through the silky strands of his hair. Soon enough she was combing through the lengthy locks, starting at his temple and moving all the way over his shoulder. These gentle ministrations brought her body closer to his, and drew the inner warmth from the tea outward, cloaking her.
His head slipped down, moving closer to hers. She glanced up into his face, her roving hand ceasing its movements momentarily. She watched him closely, but the pattern of his breathing never broke.
Her gaze lowered, noting the blanket that covered him. She had the overwhelming urge to burrow under it and press herself against him, spoon-style. Even though most of her fantasies involved doing far less innocent things to him under a set of sheets, she’d always wondered what it would be like to be cuddled by him, held softly but firmly, in silent reassurance.
Her mother always said cuddling made anything and everything instantly better, from wounded knees to broken hearts.
I suppose he hasn’t broken my heart yet, she thought, her eyes rising again to his face. She untangled her hand from his hair and touched him directly. Her fingers lightly traced the arch of his brow, the line of his nose, the gentle swell of his cheek.
She was overwhelmed by something swift and painful then, some unknown feeling underpinned by desire and heat. As her fingers found the contours of his mouth, she found her own breath shuttering in her lungs. She wanted him, yes, but she’d known that for months now. No, only now was she realizing that she wanted to give (and receive) not only pleasure, but comfort as well.
She felt giddy and stupid and pathetic and lonely all at once – so close to him, and yet so far from where she truly wanted to be. She knew he thought of her as reckless and a little irresponsible, maybe a bit shallow and self-absorbed, like the people she socialized with.
She also knew he found her attractive, even if he’d never said as much or acted on it. Along with the lingering humiliation of Halloween night, she remembered the look in his eyes when she invited him out, as well as when she attempted to kiss him.
And if she kissed him now…?
Maybe I am pathetic, she told herself as she eyed him, emotions tumbling around her head and her heart. Even though he’s asleep…and he’ll never know…I still want to.
She took a deep breath and, before she could talk herself out of it, pressed her mouth to his, bracing her hand on the nape of his neck. She felt the blood rushing through her veins, her stomach doing a slow turn, the rest of her body tensing in anticipation.
Tears welled behind her eyes as the gentle pressure of her lips went unreturned.
She pulled away, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of her mouth. It was satisfying and heartbreaking all at once, but it had somehow eased the uneasy longing that filled her – just as she knew it would.
She took another deep breath and released it slowly, opening her eyes to face him once again. He was beautiful…boyish…exhausted…and currently beyond her reach.
But hopefully, not forever.
She stood up and leaned over him. He’d be irritated if he didn’t have a decent night’s sleep, that much she did know from past experience. “Come on, Sesshoumaru, wake up,” she urged, shaking his shoulder.
When he didn’t move, she smirked. Don’t tempt me, she thought wryly, finding the idea of falling into his lap and using another method of arousal all too appealing. Checking that, she pressed a light kiss to his temple and murmured her command in his ear.
A slight groan escaped him as he stirred awake. “Mm, peppermint,” he sighed, inclining his head towards her as she retreated. His eyes fluttered open, still bleary with sleep.
“Time for bed, mister,” she teased, picking up the tray.
He stared at her for a full moment before smiling. “Yes, ma’am,” he replied wearily, picking himself up and folding her blanket into a neat pile.
He started off down the hall, reaching for his forgotten bag. He took a few steps and turned back, giving her a thoughtful glance.
“Just a word of caution, Kagome: don’t start something you don’t intend to finish.”
She could only stare after him, knuckles white as she clutched the tray, and wonder…
no subject
BTW, how long does it usually take to hear from the admin on the un_love_you site? I'm so ready to start but I haven't gotten a response to my query.
no subject
:) I'm glad you are enjoying the feel of these stories. The characters just keep fleshing themselves out for this universe in the most odd ways. I'm enjoying the exploration of feeling and emotion here, but trying to strike the right balance is always difficult. You don't want to know how many times I had to redo the ending before I was satisfied with it.
you just can't help but wonder...was he awake?
Was he? I have a strong feeling this will be answered in the next oneshot, LOL. Whether or not that will come from this prompt table, I don't know, but this story is not yet finished - that I do know.
BTW, how long does it usually take to hear from the admin on the un_love_you site? I'm so ready to start but I haven't gotten a response to my query.
I just checked the claim thread when I posted there did didn't see you on the main table. It seemed like the admins were checking the claim thread at least once a week, so I'm not sure what the hold up is?
I'd say if you have ideas, go ahead and get them out. Then you can blitz the comm when you do get your tags, LOL :)
no subject
manga. Good AU like Inugrrl uses the names of the characters only for identification purposes. You know what I think of RT's Sesshoumaru and Kagome.
But these are not them. I think that you have done a good job of creating your own characters. This is first step toward writing your original fiction and being independent of fanfiction.
no subject
I've written reams and reams of original fic. It's all I did for the majority of my writing life, so it's not like I'm using fanfic as a "stepping stone" to better (aka, original) things. So, I'm always a bit disappointed when someone tells me I'm not writing the characters in an inherently recognizable way. To me, it's more important to stick to their universal qualities, qualities that can transcend the canon. After all, none of us can truly write within the canon universe. But, I don't want to expand their characterization so far that they are no longer them at the core. Does that make sense?
A fic that I submitted for a contest got ripped up one side and down the other for being OOC when that was not the intention, so I'm a bit sensitive on this issue.
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I thank you for the compliment. I guess I'm too indoctrinated in the 'fanfic writing culture' of it all, where OCs are automatically Mary Sues and OOCess is next to evilness. "Original fic" is either a dirty word or the ultimate goal to strive for. When you step back and look at this attitude, it's pretty twisted, I freely admit.
I suppose that the characters will become more like themselves as the story progresses, but again, I aim for universal, not typecast. So I guess we'll see how successful I am at the end of this venture.
I did not know that you had written original fiction.
Yes, I have enough half-finished short stories and novels buried away to choke a horse. :) I tend to see fanfiction not as a 'lesser' form of creative writing, but merely as a different challenge. They are equally valid in my point of view (I guess because I've done both) that it always makes me a bit sad when people leave fandom to pursue "real" writing.
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I suggest going straight to the comm -
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no subject