Just a Sip by mynightshining

Just a Sip

Author's Note: Collaboratively written, one sentence at a time with co-authors AshMish111, Sereia13, thetroll and myself. Originally posted on AO3.

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Just A Sip

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Kagome never expected to see Sesshomaru like this, but there was no denying he was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen, makeup, accessories, and all.

Running into him randomly had seemed like a blessing from the gods after years of wondering what had happened to her feudal friends, and his invitation to a party at his home had made her hopeful they would be real friends, after all—but he was far from the type of party host she expected.

But when she'd cornered him, instead of answers, he'd been cryptic, telling her to enjoy his party with a smirk before hinting she'd someday return to the past—he was still as insufferable as he'd always been, beautiful or not.

She'd been conflicted, wanting to demand answers about what had happened—and how he'd managed to create his usual plum blossom crest in his eye shadow.

"Are you not enjoying my party?" Sesshomaru asked her, approaching where she stood in his vast garden.

Her denial was on the tip of her lips but she found she couldn't back it up—everything from the space to the music to the fucking decor was perfect, and she was left glaring at him in silence.

"Ah," he purred with obvious delight, "so you are enjoying this—there is no harm in admitting you find pleasure in something, Kagome."

The tone of his voice was seductive and she knew there was more to his words than he was letting on.

"What aren't you telling me?" she asked softly as she idly swirled her glass of wine.

He let out a low chuckle before dragging his perfectly manicured claws through his hair. "Some secrets are meant to be kept. Besides, someone will be extremely angry with me if do not."

Kagome stared at him, incredulous, as she blurted out, "You've changed since I last saw you, Sesshomaru."

"Nearly four centuries have passed; to remain the same would have been a fool's errand indeed."

"That didn't stop you from being set in your ways before."

"Then perhaps it was company I kept that inspired change?"

Kagome shifted under his intense gaze, gold turning to molten amber in the dim lighting.

He leaned in closer so she could feel his breath against her skin as he towered over her, bending his head to whisper in her ear, "Care to see what else has changed, Kagome?"

Her breath caught, heart pounding at his proximity.

"B-but you said I am going back," she managed, wondering what his angle was.

"Indeed you are, but that does not mean you must go…unprepared," he said enigmatically, and she reeled at the easy smirk on his face, a face she'd once wondered had ever had an expression outside of rage.

"Just what are you planning?" she said, taking an unconscious step back.

"Nothing particularly insidious." He shrugged, his posture going much more casual and she breathed a sigh of relief; he was…overwhelming in ways she'd never expected him to be, and it confused her that she didn't hate it.

"Particularly?" she echoed suspiciously and he smirked in response as he rumbled, "Well, it is more fun this way, don't you agree?"

"Maybe I need a few more drinks first," she said with a chuckle, and he grinned and pointed her toward the kitchen.

"Help yourself, Kagome; I'm afraid I have some…business to take care of."

With that, he sashayed away, leaving her alone with her drink and her thoughts.

She went to the kitchen to top up her glass, and as she looked through the various expensive wine and liquor bottles, a very familiar, and much missed voice startled her, "Kagome, I thought you were sitting this one out?"

"Shippo?" She blinked, surprised at the grown kitsune standing before her, an arm draped casually over what had to be a grown Soten cuddling a baby in her arms, and instantly, tears welled in her eyes at the thought of the boy she'd grown to love as a member of her own family.

"Uh, yeah?" he said, one brow cocked in confusion, and she covered her mouth to stifle a sob.

"You...you're all grown up!"

He blinked a couple times, and then his eyes widened in alarm. "Oh, shit you're…oh shit."

Shippo immediately craned his head, looking for something, as his free hand moved to cover Soten's mouth before she said something. "Does Sesshomaru know...Uh, I mean, have you seen Sesshomaru?"

"Yeah, he's the one who invited me, but he said he had some business to take care of and I don't know where he went."

Confused and tears still falling, Kagome stared at the couple and infant in front of her.

"Soten," Shippo said quietly, "take Ume and bring Sesshomaru back here; he brought her and he should be the one to handle this."

Soten tilted her head, ready to ask several damning questions, but Shippo shot her a pleading look. "Just trust me, and go find him; wherever he is is exactly why we came tonight, anyway."

As Soten huffed and left, Kagome turned to Sesshomaru, whipping away her tears, and managed, "Shippo, why aren't you happy to see me?"

"Oh, Kagome," he crooned, sweeping her into a tight hug, "it's not that at all; I just…didn't quite expect to see you, that's all; I'm very shocked."

"Sesshomaru didn't tell you I was coming?" Somehow, that made Kagome feel even more uncomfortable and she had the sneaking suspicion there was more going on than her friends were letting on.

His arms tightened around her now smaller frame before he pulled back. "Not exactly..."

She stiffened, and he back away, grabbing her shoulders and plastering on a wide smile. "But that's just Sesshomaru for you, he loves surprises!"

Just then, Soten reappeared, followed by a clearly amused Sesshomaru, who murmured, "Discovered my little surprise, did you?"

Shippo's expression darkened and Kagome was surprised at how the scowl aged his boyish features. "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, P—Sesshoumaru."

To Kagome's eternal shock, Sesshomaru rolled his eyes before remarking, "You forget, kit, that I have more than studied the rule book."

Soten snorted. "You're the one who is the prankster of our ragtag little pack here, Sesshomaru; pretend all you want, but we all know you protect us as much as torment us."

"I…get the feeling I'm not exactly welcome here," Kagome murmured, three sets of round, alarmed eyes turning on her.

"I should go..." She set her still empty glass on the counter and made to leave.

Shippo put a soothing hand on her shoulder and murmured, "No matter what, Kagome, you're always going to be like family to us. As a sister, as a partner…you're pack. He'll explain what that means," and he nodded to Sesshomaru.

"No, I'll explain what it means; this asshole has done more than enough," a fourth voice piped in, and Kagome almost broke down again at the warm, golden eyes staring at her from just behind the rest of the group. "Keh, hey, K'gome."

On his arm was a yokai that seemed familiar and it took Kagome a moment to recognize Shiori, all grown up now and with an indulgent look in her eye for her mate before she offered Kagome a gentle smile.

Her hands shook as they rose to her mouth, tears pricking the edges of her eyes before she let out a choked, albeit exasperated, groan. "Somebody better explain something..."

Her head whipped around as she tried to take them all in, noticing how they'd each aged but recognizing the facial features she'd grown to know and love.

"Oy, stop looking at me like that," the decidedly middle aged InuYasha grumbled goodnaturedly. "It's like yah seen a ghost or somethin.'"

"I have!" she said, incensed, "I've been back here, stuck here for years and none of you have come to see me! And then I randomly run into Sesshoumaru and get invited to a random party and…" Her voice cracked.

"Right, well, let's go sit outside and I'll explain…everything I can," Inuyasha said, linking his arm with hers and pulling her from the kitchen, but Sesshomaru's voice stopped them, slipping sensually through the crowd, "Kagomeeee, hold on a moment."

"She is not yours, InuYasha," Sesshomaru continued, clearly half-drunk, half-annoyed. "She is your pack but she is not yours."

Shippo reached out, deftly removing the wine glass from Sesshoumaru's hand. "No more for you; we don't need any more of your mood swings."

If looks could kill, Shippo would have died then as Sesshomaru ground out, "I do not get drunk, even on yokai made alcohol."

Emerald eyes flashed at him, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips, aging him from the kitsune child he'd adopted.

Sesshomaru sauntered up to InuYasha and Kagome and pulled Kagome to his chest as he rumbled, "You always want what is mine, InuYasha."

Kagome stiffened, Shippo, Soten, and Shiori didn't know whether to laugh or to bash their heads into a wall, and Inuyasha heaved a great sigh as he groused, "You're so fucking insufferable when you're drunk, and you're ruining everything."

Kagome tried to free herself from Sesshomaru's gentle yet unyielding grasp but Sesshomaru evidently had other ideas because before she could feel herself, he bent his head and kissed her.

"I sure hope your mate thinks this is as funny as you seem to," Inuyasha forced through gritted fangs, extricating Kagome from his grasp. "'Cause you can bet I'm telling her everything."

Kagome stiffened and before anyone could react, she slapped Sesshomaru across the face as she hissed, "You kissed me when you're married to someone else, Sesshomaru?!"

"She does not mind," he stated with a slight slur, staring down his nose at her, a smirk tugging his lips. "She remembers."

Kagome was enraged and, without thinking, reached out to tug on Sesshomaru's ear, pulling him down to her level as everyone around them gasped.

Sapphire turned to stormy indigo as she glared at him. "If you ever cheat on her, I will remove your balls myself. She has to be a saint to put up with you!"

His head suddenly spun as he muttered, "She did not warn me of this."

But perhaps the alcohol in his system gave him confidence because he suddenly grinned and chortled as he said, "She prefers to be called 'miko' rather 'saint,' but the taste of her is heavenly either way—and it has been far too long since I last partook."

"Just what the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Inuyasha wailed as Kagome paled.

"She must be prepared, Inuyasha, before she goes back."

"Prepared doesn't mean fucked, asshole!" InuYasha shouted back at his brother, losing any semblance of civility.

"Did you forget the order, dumbass?" InuYasha continued, too incensed to stop, "She goes back and then you can—"

Shiori slapped her hand over the mouth of her mate, shooting a pointed look to the other party guests. "People are staring."

Soten rolled her eyes as she barked, "Thanks to Inubaka and our 'great' alpha here, the cat is basically out of the bag so you might as well fess up to all of it—and since this is your mess, we ladies will leave you to clean it up."

Kagome looked between all of her friends—her supposed friends—and noting their suspicious and guilty expressions, decided she'd had enough.

"I'm going home," she announced, too tired, heartsick, and stressed to want to stay a moment longer.

She didn't bother waiting for a response, simply turning around and walking out the nearest door.

It was Sesshomaru who reached her, an earnest look in his eyes as he said, "Don't go—don't leave me again, Kagome."

"Don't tell me what to—" She froze, confusion and curiosity swirling together in her chest. "What do you mean 'again?'"

He sighed, closing his eyes and burying his nose in the hair at the top of her head. "Perhaps I have had too much to drink; I should go find my mate and leave his mate alone."

The bottom dropped out of her stomach and she almost leaned into him—almost—her body unconscious seeking the comfort that he seemed to be freely offering.

"Sesshomaru…what—" she tried to ask, but he interrupted with an almost sad tone, "I simply find every version of you irresistible."

Her mouth opened and then snapped closed as her brain jumped to a conclusion that she was absolutely, positively sure couldn't be.

He brushed her hair away from her eyes, his claws capturing an ebony lock and bringing it to his lips as he gave her a considering look. "I am trying to decide whether her wrath is worth it."

He must have decided it was, for in between one blink and the next Kagome found herself swept up in the most consuming, mind shattering kiss she'd ever had, one that stole every thought and set every nerve aflame, and then just as quickly and pulled away, resting his forehead against hers, whispering to her, "The well will open in one month's time, and you must return to him, return to me, for I am waiting."

Kagome's hands had found themselves on his chest, clutching tightly to his see-through shirt as she whispered incredulously, "I am your mate?"

He smiled, a real smile, with none of his previous mischief, one that warmed his eyes until they looked like molten honey, and his voice was so full of love her heart threatened to burst when he said, "You will be."

Her voice caught on an audible gasp at the love she saw—no one had ever looked at her that was before, which is probably why she blurted, "Say it again."

He cradled her face gently in his hands, pressing another kiss to her forehead, her nose, her lips, sighing as he rumbled, "You will be mine—you are mine."

Heat pooled between her legs, unable to take her eyes off him, her mind reeling from his confession but not wanting to miss a moment of what she could see on his face.

He smiled as he gently brushed her bangs from her face and murmured, "Every moment with you is a treasure, Kagome—always remember that."

"But I'm human!"

"Indeed," he said with a grin, and it took all her strength not to follow him when he turned away and walked deeper into his home, but he'd reached the end of his restraint, and now, he needed his Kagome.

Floundering, Kagome made her way back home but before she left, she thought she saw Sesshomaru embrace someone through one of the windows in his home…someone who looked vaguely familiar.

In the upper levels of his home, locked away from the party still raging below, Sesshomaru wrapped his arms tightly around his mate, kissing her deeply as she giggled and wrapped his hair around her hands. "What has you so worked up?"

"Aside the fact that you threatened to neuter me earlier?"

His mate chuckled. "You deserved it."

"I fail to see how it is my fault that you are so alluring. Even in your youth."

"You just can't resist me no matter what," she teased, but the way his tongue curled against hers and a deep, lustful growl rumbled from his chest into hers told him how much he agreed.

His hands slid up her sides and his tongue slid down her neck, fangs grazing against her skin. "You are the one who enticed me so brazenly."

"Well, I knew you wouldn't say no."

He huffed, refusing to acknowledge she could read him so well, even back then.

But then Kagome flared her reiki teasingly, knowing how he'd react, and he lunged, toppling them both to the bed where he intended to keep them for a very, very long time.

It was almost a month later, while they were lounging by their pool, and after she'd checked her watch for what felt like the hundredth time that a pulse of power washed over them, rippling like waves at their feet.

Kagome exchanged a knowing look with her mate as she murmured lightly, "Looks like it's time."

"Hn. The time loop is closed, and now there is only you and I."

Kagome rolled her eyes as his hands began to snake from her back to her breasts and chided him, "Honestly, Sesshomaru, don't you think of anything else?"

He scoffed, placing hot, open mouthed kisses to her shoulder. "As if there is anything else worth thinking of—you are of the utmost importance."

She softened; he'd use similar words in the past upon her return and she had as little defense for them now as she had them. "I'm glad I chose you."

He buried his face in her hair, filling his lungs with her scent. "As am I. There was a time when I was unsure if you would."

"When the most beautiful being in existence tells you he's waiting for you, you don't say no," she said, tracing down one set of stripes, across his nose, and to the others. "You had nothing to fear."

Sesshoumaru preened, pulling back and giving her a smug look. "You had these thoughts even back then? Perhaps I should have made my intent known sooner, when you were prancing around in that lovely green ensemble."

Kagome rolled her eyes again as she murmured, "Well, that certainly explains why you got so into costumes and accessories for our bed play."

He gave her a feral grin. "I have many fantasies to catch up on."

Intrigued, she leaned in as he began to whisper one such fantasy in her ears—and as always, she was as intrigued as he was and it wasn't long before it devolved into more.

He scooped her up, whisked her back inside, and once more made her thank every star in the sky that she'd thrown out every fear she'd had and jumped back down that well.