AN: Yup this is a concept taken from my other fic The Otome Game. This fic does not follow any established Greek myth, it's just a silly lil fic with characters that can correlate between Greek Gods like this;
Eros = Sesshoumaru
Zeus = Touga
Hermes = Kouga
Hercules = Inuyasha
Artemis = Midoriko
For Sesskag Week Day 6 - Orange (Love & Happiness) don't take this one too seriously lol language will be very loose and not old-timey at all. Warning: some smut
-----
If someone were to ask you what Cupid looked like you'd likely picture a pudgy cherub type of baby with wings, complete with a bow and arrow. Or if you're a little more interested in Greek Myth, you'd think of a well built young man called Eros who loved passionately and with great emotion.
Sesshoumaru supposed he fit the latter more than the former. However, he was no emotive fool. Mortal's often had a rigid idea of the God of Love. He should be a sweet, simpering being who matched humans together based on such things as 'soulmates' or compatibility or other such nonsense.
No, Sesshoumaru was direct, precise. There was no need for flowery things such as star-sign matches and 'the perfect partner.' When he took aim at mortals, feeling faint satisfaction in how his arrows pierced their hide- romance was not on his mind.
He paired humans together based on how efficient they'd be as a couple. None of this 'feelings' nonsense. True Love was a spouse that provided, who showed loyalty and promised security. Under his watch, humans thrived in terms of reputable matches. None strayed outside of their social circles or rank. Peasants married peasants, Princesses wed Princes or Kings. Things were as they should be, in order.
Or at least they were before a certain woman climbed his mountain.
"Take it back."
Sesshoumaru blinked, folding towering white wings to glance over one shoulder.
She stood in the entrance to his lavish hall in a seafoam green peplos that had been hitched up, thin fabric tied aside to expose the expanse of her long legs, likely to aid her in climbing the steep rockface. Sweat clung to her body as a result of the punishing climb to the summit. Lengthy raven hair billowed around her, curly and thick.
Blue eyes narrowed into slits, hands planting on her lips.
Truly, she was a sight to behold. Dusty intrigue kindled to life in his lower abdomen.
He arched a brow, "excuse me?"
"Your stupid arrow! I want you to reverse whatever it was you did to Inuyasha to make him lose his senses over Kikyo. I know you struck him."
"Oh really?" he drawled, ignoring the wench in favour of continuing to read from a scroll, lounging on plush white furs and facing away from her, "and how is it you are so confident it was I who caused Inuyasha's change of heart? It could have happened on its own."
"Well two things," she walked inside his mansion uninvited, voice bouncing off white marble walls. "One, Inuyasha is a Demi-God and your half brother. Gods are always doing this type of thing to mess with each other. I also know you don't like him very much. He told me all about it," she ticked off her fingers, "and two, I saw the arrow hit. No one else shoots golden arrows with red and white fletchings."
That caught his attention.
The God lifted himself up, folding his wings. Leisurely strolling over to the petite mortal who glared at him like she were his equal in power, he smirked. How amusing.
He captured her chin in one hand, adjusting his grip to tilt her head, admiring the gleam of her deep blue eyes that sparked with ire.
"You saw it? A mortal?"
She pushed his hand aside, refusing to step back and surrender ground. "My name is Kagome. And yes...I see a lot of things I probably shouldn't," she mumbled. "My Grandma was an oracle, that might've been where it comes from- but anyway! Can you reverse it or not?"
Sesshoumaru gave a dignified snort, eyeing her from head to toe once more. "No."
Her mouth hung open, stiffening. "What? Don't you have control over your own powers?"
Sensing her tone, Sesshoumaru's voice lowered into something smoky and dangerous in its heavy, crackling purr. "Careful, mortal Kagome. You test my patience."
Kagome fell quiet, watchful.
Good, it seemed she had some brains inside that pretty head after all.
He watched her try to assemble something more polite onto her tongue. "Is there absolutely no way to stop Kikyo and Inuyasha from being in love once the arrow has struck?"
"You could always kill one of them," Sesshoumaru mused. "That sufficiently frees up the other."
Her hackles raised, pink lips drawing back from pearly white teeth in a highly amusing sneer. Well, Sesshoumaru found it amusing.
"So...you're like this," Kagome gestured to him with disbelief. "The God of Love. You. You're the God of Love."
"Thank you for the reminder," he drawled, pouring water from a clay jug into a chalice for her and offering it. Kagome took it with mild surprise, taking a long drink with greedy gulps. Sesshoumaru wandered out towards his balcony, passing by smooth white pillars.
Light footsteps signalled his guest had followed him, unease in her tone, "it's just that you don't seem well suited to it. At all. What's your process? How do you decide if two people should be in a relationship or not?"
"Suitability. Rank. Social status. All these factors must be fairly even."
The heat of her stare bore into his back, making Sesshoumaru turn to catch her gaze. "You have more complaints, I take it."
"Yes, I do! What does your Mother think about your matches? I've heard stories of great love and romance between Princes and peasants in the past, there's no way your assessment of love is the correct one! It's so...cold and cynical!"
Sesshoumaru cut his eyes to the clouds. "My process is very successful, wench. It is much more efficient than relying on something as changing and vapid as feelings. Often times lust or admiration is mistaken for love, leading to unnecessary tragedy. Doing things my way, there is no room for error or heartache."
Kagome grew quiet at that, moving around his side to stand beside him in the bright, midday sunlight, setting her empty chalice down. "No heartache, huh? maybe you're right," she allowed softly. "But there's no passion either. Inuyasha wasn't in love with Kikyo, he-" her gaze flitted away "-he was in love with someone else."
Golden eyes narrowed. Ah, that was what this was all about. He'd unwittingly stolen her crush away, pushing him into the arms of another woman.
Exhaling a disappointed sigh, Sesshoumaru moved to grasp his quiver of arrows, shouldering his bow. He then opened his wings, using one to scoop her closer until her soft body bumped his side.
"W-what?" she squeaked, steadying herself against him.
"I will demonstrate if you wish."
Kagome's expression steeled, and she nodded firmly, sliding both arms around his neck. Sesshoumaru inwardly purred at the feel of her arching against him, their chests meeting. Easing down, he scooped her up into his arms, gliding easily onto the railing of his balcony before freefalling off the edge.
A high scream deafened in his ears.
Sesshoumaru winced, pinching her hip to cut off the irritating sound while their hair lashed up above them. "Stop."
"I'll scream if I want to! Warn a girl next time!" she yelped, clutching onto him tightly and hiding her face in his neck. He didn't mind that part so much.
Beating his wings to halt their rapid descent, he opened them wide, air currents fanning through white feathers pleasantly. They felt like fingers combing through his hair, and he sighed against the woman's citrus-scented dark locks. A pity she loved Inuyasha, she was a fine woman.
Sesshoumaru adjusted her in his arms, claws dragging over the material of her clothing. Cool winds battered their bodies, and he alternated between soaring quickly to alleviate the woman's shivers and adjusting his speed so as not to make her squall.
Green lands rushed up to greet them soon enough, and Sesshoumaru's wings continued to move, taking them sailing past various cities.
Landing on the outskirts of one, Sesshoumaru set her down, wandering calmly towards town.
"W-wait," she gasped, catching her breath. "Aren't you worried about people seeing you?"
"They will not see me unless they have particularly keen eyes like yours," he said without worry.
With no other options but to follow, the woman jogged to keep up with his purposeful stride.
-----
Under the hot glare of the sun, he demonstrated his method for several hours. Paying close attention to mortals from above while standing on rooftops or passing them by in the street, Sesshoumaru located couples.
His form with a bow and arrow could not be critiqued. He was certain of this, despite his distaste for the bow. Swords were preferable. Sesshoumaru felt Kagome's keen eyes on him while drawing the bowstring back, clawed fingers brushing fletchings, muscles pulling taut.
"Your elbow is a little high."
He stiffened. "Hn?"
Kagome drew up against his side on the balcony overlooking a market square, gently grasping his arm and guiding it downwards just a tad, immediately loosening the strain on his muscle slightly. She then patted a spot beneath his ribs. "Better?"
Sesshoumaru released- hitting his target in the back.
His stomach fluttered, heat stirring blue blood. He could not tell if he was frustrated or pleased. "How is it that you know archery forms?"
Kagome smiled mysteriously, turning blue eyes to the couple he'd just paired. "I was an attendant of Midoriko's temple. It's a requirement that you can hunt and use a bow. Unfortunately, I failed a test to be taken further into her good graces."
"What test did you fail?"
She glanced at him without shame. "The vow of chastity."
His mouth grew dry. "I see," he uttered, shouldering his bow with a faint rumble in his voice. "I am pleased to hear it."
Kagome rolled her eyes, gesturing to the women below. "So walk me through your process here. Why did you pair these two?"
"They are both daughters of merchants and have similar backgrounds, stations."
"How can you tell?"
"Godly intuition."
Kagome shot him a look that hinted she was inwardly calling him a snob. "What about those two?"
Shifting intent attention to where she gestured over the marketplace, a woman in a fine peplos accompanied by attendants hesitated before a stall, talking to a dark-haired man. They held direct eye contact, smiling at one another. When the woman looked away, traces of a blush dusted her cheeks.
"No, they are unsuitable."
Folding her arms, Kagome frowned. "Because she's got more money than him?"
"She is from an influential family, meanwhile he is a con artist with a silver tongue. She can do better," he drawled. "A landowner will suit her."
The slightly stiff-looking woman gave a laugh, trying to stifle the sound and remain composed. Kagome caught it. "But they're halfway there. All they need is a little nudge."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, facing her. "And why, pray tell, do you think they would make a successful couple? Everything points to the contrary."
Kagome stared back, resolute, firm. "I happen to know her. She's constantly strong and self-sacrificing for others, her family, this town. I want Sango to have him because it looks like he's the only choice she's ever gonna get, and if it's a bad decision, so what? At least she gained something that was just hers."
Shouldering his bow, the God headed towards the balcony steps. Despite his refusal to shoot, displeasure and heavy thoughts marred his brow, mouth pulling down. The woman gave him something to think about, even as his pride roared to ignore her.
----
They spent the entire day together, matching couples and debating over possible pairs. Midway through they'd taken a break, easing through a lush forest to hunt. Hearing snuffling in the undergrowth, Kagome lifted her hand out, palm up, asking silent permission for his bow.
Sesshoumaru allowed it, passing over one of his more deadly arrows.
Raising her knee onto a log, Kagome nocked the arrow, drawing the bowstring back. The sight took his breath away. She had perfect form, muscles smaller than his but faintly defined. She was sleek but strong.
Kagome released, shooting a boar through the eye.
After killing it and sitting by a fire together to eat, Sesshoumaru observed the mortal quietly. She chewed her meat heartily, reflecting none of the poised power she'd exuded for a moment in the forest.
"Were you born to be the God of Love?" she asked abruptly.
Golden eyes slid away, "that is a loaded question."
"O-oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude if it's a touchy subject."
Sesshoumaru sensed no ill-will or intent, so with a sigh, he dug sharp canines into the leg of the boar, stripping some meat off with a sharp drag. "I was to be the God of War."
Kagome looked him over with lingering attention, eliciting his skin to burn. "That makes sense, actually. Explains why you see people by their rank first."
"Hn."
She sipped from a waterskin, questions clearly piling up on her tongue. His lips twitched, swallowing his food. Deciding against elaborating right away, Sesshoumaru enjoyed her mounting intrigue and frustration.
He caught her eye, a twinkle in his golden ones.
"Oh! Would you just tell me why it never happened already?" Kagome burst, grinning.
Sesshoumaru chuckled softly, wings adjusting as he shifted in his seat upon a smooth elevated rock. His expression became sober. "My Father took issue with my attempt to kill my half-brother. As punishment, he made me the God of Love. Apparently, it was to teach me compassion."
Dark brows pulled together. Kagome sighed, leaning back on both arms and tilting her head back to stare at firey orange skies. "Inuyasha told me about that. Why did you try to kill him?"
"After several years of thinking about it, I suppose it was misdirected rage."
Kagome's lips quirked at the edges. "Sounds like you've been working on yourself if you can recognise that."
Sesshoumaru's porcelain face remained pensive, moody. He stared into the fire with fixation, "I do not see how everything that I was...could be wrong. I was created for war, it is baked into the fabric of my being. Father denied me that right. I feel only the barest hint of satisfaction by shooting mortals with love arrows of all things. It is...humiliating to be denied kills when it was all I breathed for years. I cannot wield another weapon but this bow."
Something moved in his peripheral vision, the fabric of her clothing brushing his arm as she sat beside him. Golden eyes slanted to meet deep blue pools that threatened to drown him. Kagome squeezed his forearm. She then gave a small grin, "wow, I can't believe I feel bad for you being denied the need to murder people."
Sesshoumaru huffed, looking towards the flames once again.
Her touch felt soothing on his arm, thumb brushing his hungry skin. "But I think it's admirable...to see that you've tried. You were saddled with a title you didn't want but instead of moping, you've tackled it as best you can. Sure you employ a different method to match couples than I'd choose, but at least you're trying. That's great."
Sesshoumaru listened to her, pale lashes lowering slightly, lulled by her touch and soft tone.
"Is there any way you'll ever become the God of War?"
"I do not think so. My Father's judgement was absolute."
"Well then, given some time, maybe we can find a solution to make your job less boring for you," Kagome pressed a kiss to his cheek, standing and smoothing her dress down. "For now, let's go find Inuyasha."
The magenta stripe cutting across his cheek- which had always been intended to be seen as warpaint- pricked and thrummed, requesting more. More of her touch and tender lips on his flesh.
Sesshoumaru stood, clearing his throat and outstretching Godly white wings. "Hn..."
----
It looked as though the mortals had thrown a party in a quieter area situated away from the main bulk of the city. Kagome's home was at the top of the opposite hill, which she pointed out to him while they settled on a rooftop, looking down at the guests mingling outside around lit braisers.
"There they are."
Sesshoumaru redirected his gaze, following Kagome's pointed finger down towards a pair lounging within a large hammock together. Inuyasha and the temple attendant called Kikyo seemed content enough.
"So you wish for him to fall out of love with her. What of the woman?"
Kagome bit her lip. "Ideally, of course I want everyone to be happy. If the love spell is broken, hopefully Kikyo will fall out of love with him too."
"Hn," retrieving the very brow he'd used to shoot Inuyasha, which had the knock-on effect of making him fall for the first person in sight, Sesshoumaru studied the golden tip. With Inuyasha affected, Kikyo had been helpless to resist its charms, lulled into love alongside him. "Perhaps if you stand before Inuyasha and allow me to shoot you, it will cause him to love you again," he uttered, sour at the thought.
"Why would I want that?"
He blinked, attention snapping to the woman beside him. "...You wish for him to stop loving Kikyo."
Kagome stared back uncomprehendingly for a moment, silently clicking onto his meaning. She gave a giggle, cheeks flushing red, eyes sparkling with mirth. "Yeah, because he's in love with a friend of mine. I'm not into Inuyasha!" she giggled harder.
Sesshoumaru's lips pursed, standing straighter. "It was you who failed to convey that information clearly," a sneer curled in his voice, but marble, haughty features softened with relief. "If you are not Inuyasha's lover, then who is?"
"That'd be me!"
What appeared to be a falling star caught up in a whirlwind careened towards them from the sky. Sesshoumaru grabbed Kagome, tugging her in close and shielding her with a wing that snapped open like a fan.
Bright light burst forth, muted from behind strong white feathers. Kagome tilted her head up to look at Sesshoumaru, blushing slightly at his proximity. "It's okay," she murmured, reaching out to brush a hand over the feathers- causing him to shiver- minding his wing aside.
From behind the length of his wing, a dark-haired male stood, arching a brow. "Huh, you sure seem cosy with Mr Frigid, Kagome."
"Kouga!" she chided, hurrying over to greet him with a hug.
Sesshoumaru stared, completely and utterly baffled. "You cannot be serious," he drawled flatly.
"What?" The God of travel, thieves, sports, and shepherds, messenger of the Gods and fastest of them all looked at him curiously, as though everything was fine and dandy.
"Are you honestly telling me you are involved with my half-brother?" Sesshoumaru pinched his brow. "You, who are perhaps the single most unsuitable choice I would have picked."
Kouga chuckled good-naturedly, giving Kagome a squeeze before she broke away from him. "Can't help who you fall in love with," he shrugged.
"Understatement of the century."
"Heh, we're both full of hot air, but Inuyasha is more grounded than me," gesturing to his winged sandals with a grin, Kouga wandered to the edge of the roof overlooking the party. "We argued a lot but after seeing him do a bunch of labours, I had to admit I found him admirable. After fooling around with a bunch of mortals, I didn't expect to be set on him either, but here I am," Kouga glanced at the woman warmly. "Thanks for going to find Mr Frigid, Kagome."
Ah, now it made sense. Gods couldn't get involved in each other's judgments overly much. They sought humans to do it for them.
Kagome noticed the look on Sesshoumaru's face, frowning. "I didn't climb your dumb mountain just because a God needed me to. I did it because I wanted to. For a friend."
"Hn...and a God happens to be your friend," Sesshoumaru said sceptically. He soon sighed, wings lowering as he allowed himself to smirk with faint exasperation. "I cannot say I am overly surprised about that part."
Kagome brightened, gazing at him with tenderness.
Looking between the two, Kouga cleared his throat. "So, uh...the love arrow?"
Sesshoumaru shook himself, presenting it. "As I told Kagome, nothing breaks my spell once the arrow has struck."
Panic skittered over Kouga's face. He snarled, power flaring. "Seriously? Did you do this just to fuck with me?"
Bristling, golden eyes narrowed dangerously. "Please," he scoffed, "you are so far beneath my level I barely notice you. In fact, I pay so little attention to your affairs I struck your loved one. That should say something."
"Yeah! You were looking to fuck with Inuyasha instead! As usual," yellow light blazed over Kouga's tanned skin as he stormed forward.
Sesshoumaru reached for his bow- but Kagome stepped in between them, arms raised. "Quit it!" she snarled, voice carrying over the treetops.
Despite being quick to devastating emotion, the two Gods heard her. They stopped, attention sliding to the petite woman.
She carefully lowered her arms, "we're all here for the same reason. We want to know if this thing can be broken. Sesshoumaru," Kagome turned to the God of Love. "Have you ever tried just snapping the arrow in two to see if it affects the spell?"
"Observe." He gripped the arrow in both hands, muscles coiling, strength visibly going into it. However, the arrow remained straight and spotless.
Kouga scoffed, brushing past Kagome in his much too short chiton. Snatching the golden arrow, he grunted, trying to bend the arrow over a raised knee.
Amusement played over Sesshoumaru's eyes. Kagome shot him a look, sighing. She lay a hand on Kouga's back. "I'm sorry, Kouga. We'll find another way."
"It'll work!" he insisted, putting more effort into his arms, going slightly red in the face.
Kagome rolled her eyes, snatching the arrow back, "Kouga, that's enough. Clearly nothing is gonna break this dumb back-scratcher," she muttered, trying to bend it for emphasis.
The arrow broke in two.
Silence swept over the trio. All three of them stared at the frayed, broken ends with complete shock, dumbstruck.
A loud exclamation reached their ears from below in the courtyard. Kouga reacted to the sound first, leaping off the roof.
Sesshoumaru and Kagome were left to watch Inuyasha and Kikyo break away from each other, the Demi-God grunting as Kouga collided with him, lifting him off the ground, much to his loud protests.
"Huh," Kagome passed the broken arrow back. "Everything worked out easier than I thought. Guess the arrow can't be broken by Gods, only mortals."
Sesshoumaru accepted it, eyeing the golden ends critically, before tossing it aside. "It seems so," he uttered, watching his brother slowly shed his awkward demeanour, gruffly returning his lover's embrace. Kikyo murmured something to them, seeming to bear no ill will as she took her leave.
"...Is this what I have been doing?" Sesshoumaru wondered aloud, voice subdued. "Disrupting mortal's love lives by imposing my judgement over their free will?"
Not that he cared about the lives of mortals. He only watched them every day. Like ants. Little...inconsequential ants.
His eyes slid to the broken arrow.
A soft touch at his hand slid through the gaps in his fingers, Kagome squeezing tight. "Not everyone is in love before you find them, I'm sure you've mostly paired single people. It's hard to tell, especially if they have a long-distance relationship like those two," she nodded to Kouga and Inuyasha. "But it sounds to me like you could use an assistant."
Sesshoumaru's chest lightened, the gold of his eyes flaring awake. "Is that so?" velvety tones deepened.
"Mhm," Kagome smiled. "If you're not too prideful to accept help. I am just a mere mortal, after all."
He tore his hand from hers- sliding the arm around her waist instead, tightening to bring her flush against him. "Hn, you should stay close then. You cannot be expected to climb my mountain every day."
Kagome's blue eyes widened, a pleased smile curling her kissable mouth. "You've got a point," she fluffed her hair, which had curled into a slight frizz due to the humidity. "First thing I need is a bath. Do you have one of those up in that fancy mansion of yours?"
Sesshoumaru gathered her into his arms, wings ruffling out to beat strongly, allowing him to jump from the rooftop and swoop over Inuyasha's head.
The Demi-God caught Sesshoumaru's gaze, flipping him the bird. Oddly enough, the air of malcontent between them seemed less heavy than before.
Kagome rested a smile against Sesshoumaru's neck, waving at her friends while being carried away into the night sky.
----
His bedroom was spartan in atmosphere and design, decorated by a bed of fur pelts and wild vines growing on the walls. All was lit by a low, snapping fire in the centre, the flames flickering towards his open balcony which allowed cool air to billow through.
This was how Kagome found him, water from her bath rendering her skin damp.
Sesshoumaru lifted himself from the bed, eyes on the scrap of cloth shielding her bare form. When Kagome dropped it, he met her halfway.
He scooped the mortal up princess style, their lips meeting. Carrying her back to the bed of animal pelts, Sesshoumaru lay her down, tongues brushing and hands seeking. Kagome cradled his face in her hands, kissing his jaw and stroking a thumb over his lips, lingering over his Cupid's bow. They indulged in each other, neither caring they'd only met that day. Instinct urged them close. Sesshoumaru placed his hands on either side of her head in the furs, his powerful bulk looming over her petite, strong form.
Kagome reached for white wings, and he lowered them obligingly, lifting her body enough to slide them above and beneath her in a white feathery cacoon.
"So soft," she purred, stroking them.
Sesshoumaru shivered, ridding himself of pale clothing to kiss down a tantalisingly bare chest, hitching her knee over his shoulder. He then dove a seeking tongue into her wet heat.
Kagome went rigid- a gasp caught in her throat. He felt her arch, hips lifting into his mouth, before a long drawling sigh escaped her lips.
He was not intended to be the God of Love but he certainly played the part well.
"Good, move for me, Kagome. Let out your voice," he rubbed her with a clawed thumb. "Sing for me, like a little canary."
She dug her hands into the feathers over her head, canting needy hips into him. Sesshoumaru gave a satisfied hum that vibrated into her, smiling playfully. Flicking his tongue inside clenching walls, he withdrew it to scrape blunt teeth over her sex, clamping a hot mouth over her clit.
"Ngh! Sesshoumaru!"
Allowing her to squirm and ride his tongue, blindly seeking her release, Sesshoumaru gave a rich chuckle she came, coating his tongue in her sweet, slick juices.
"Hah- what's so funny?" she panted, cheeks flushed red.
"I do not wax poetic about orgasms but you seemed to enjoy yourself," he licked languidly at his mouth. "Would you say I live up to my title? I am considered the God of Lust too."
Kagome grinned, pushing up and tackling him, throwing her weight into the God and slamming his back into plush furs. The breath knocked from his immortal lungs, pleasant suprise stirring his heart and lower abdomen, cock hardening from the look in her eye.
She shifted closer atop his chest, curling a hand in silver hair, bedding cushioning his head. "You have to earn that title, and one orgasm isn't going to do it."
Sesshoumaru read her intent and grasped her beneath sturdy thighs, cradling her ass and urging her to sink down over his face, tongue sliding inside her once more.
"As you wish," he smirked, groaning against wet folds as she began bucking and grinding against his mouth. Not many mortals could say they'd ridden a God, but Sesshoumaru would allow her the honour.
By the end of that heady night, he'd firmly cemented himself in Kagome's eyes as more than worthy of his title.
End