Chapter Fourteen – Lesson Two
Yamazaki Miroku shouldered his way through the mat covering his door, pausing to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness on the other side. He shifted the bag of wheat slung across his shoulder, carefully navigating amongst the small bodies that littered the floor. Soft snores cut through the still air, punctuated by rustles and half-murmured, unintelligible words. Miroku smiled to himself as he stepped over the last tiny body and left the main room, adjusting the bag once more. "Took you long enough, monk." Ignoring the gruff greeting, Miroku placed the heavy sack beside the door, drawing a short knife and cutting of open across the top. "A good morning to you as well, Inuyasha. To what do I owe the pleasure of this rather early visit?" "Brought another runt," the half-demon announced, neither acknowledging nor responding to Miroku's greeting. The monk looked up, meeting the golden eyed gaze that he had familiarized himself with long ago. "Oh?" Inuyasha shifted. "Yeah. Some kitsune brat." "I'm not a brat!" Miroku cocked a brow. That sounded like...a child? "And where is this so called brat, old friend?" With a bland expression, Inuyasha unfolded his arms, drawing a small kitsune cub from one sleeve. The kit squirmed, and then looked to Miroku with angry turquoise eyes. "Hey! Tell this jerk to let me go!" "Who're you callin' a jerk, runt?" The words were low, and Miroku felt a slow foreboding creep up his spine. "Inuyasha, perhaps—" "You, you jerk!" the kit interrupted, swiveling around so quickly that the shirt gripped between Inuyasha's claws made a ripping sound. "Let me go!" "Now look here, ya little bastard! I saved your sorry ass, ya hear me? You could at least thank me!" "No! You're nothin' but a stupid hanyou! I don't have to thank you for anything!" "Why you—" Miroku made a quick decision, darting forward and snatching the kit before Inuyasha could pummel him with the fist that he had poised over his head. Cradling the small youkai in the crook of one arm even as he stuck his tongue out at the hanyou across the room, Miroku smiled. "No need for violence, Inuyasha," he placated. "I'm sure our little friend is just a bit nervous." Being sure that his face was open and friendly, Miroku turned the kit to face him. "Isn't that right?" For a moment, the cub simply looked at him. And then, with a pout and a snobbish upturn of his nose, crossed his arms and 'hmphed' his response. 'Ah,' Miroku thought. 'So he's one of the defiant ones, is he?' He gave a mental chuckle. 'We'll see how he reacts when he meets the others. For now...' He turned to Inuyasha. "Could you go down to the well and get water, Inuyasha? We're nearly out." The hanyou sighed, and then hoisted himself up with a complaining groan. "Fine. But you owe me." Miroku grinned.
:..:..:..:..:
A frustrated grumble broke through the quiet atmosphere, and the small rabbit who had been watching the two humans from the safety of the tree line turned and fled. Kagome looked up just in time to catch the flash of its white tail in the foliage, and then it was gone and she was alone with her thoughts and her mentor once more. "This is hopeless," she mumbled, dropping her face into the palms of her hands. "Nonsense," came Suzume's sickeningly upbeat response. "It just takes practice." Kagome wondered if it would take practice to beg for this lesson to end. With a sigh, she sat up and closed her eyes once more. Sounds and smells overwhelmed her, swamping her body with as much information as they could in the absence of sight. Birds rustled in the treetops above, chirping cheerfully as they went about their business, and the strong but soothing scent of pine flooded her nose. She sat up straighter and calmed her mind. The steady ba-dump, ba-dump of her heart and the smooth feel of her breath flowing in and out of her nose was almost the perfect companion to the nature around her. She gave in easily to the rhythm of breath and birds and heart beats and rustling animals, and it wasn't long before she fell into a trance, and all outside noise fell away until only her heart and her breathing and even the rush of her blood was all she could hear. She turned her attention even further inward, focusing on the ball of contained reiki hiding behind her heart. It spiraled cool and calm and she mentally grasped at its cold end and began to unravel it. Its chilled strands cooled her insides, but despite the odd feeling of outward warmth and inward chill, Kagome continued, pulling at a slow, easy pace. She was distantly aware of sweat rolling down between her shoulder blades, but determined not to allow anything to distract her this time, she continued the mental pull, picturing the tendrils as they meandered through her veins. Lucid relaxation spread with her power, and when it had successfully reached the tips of her fingers and toes, she hardened her resolve and began to bring herself out of the trance while keeping her reiki evenly distributed. For a short moment, she was amazed at how much awareness came to her, and then, like a candle in the wind, her reiki spluttered and died, receding until she could only feel a small pulse just beneath her breastbone. She sighed again. "That was better, Kagome," Suzume said, reaching over to pat a slumped shoulder. "We'll stop for now, and resume tomorrow morning." Kagome nodded and settled back on her hands, pushing away the nagging disappointment from her failure and assuring herself that she would get better. 'All it takes is practice.' She stared up at the canopy, watching the sunlight filter through the leaves. A bird flittered into her line of sight, and after sitting for a moment on a high branch, it twittered and flew away, feathers flashing gray and red in the sunlight. Kagome started as a thought occurred to her. "Suzume?" "Yes?" "When you leave," Kagome began, thinking of the bird, "where will you go?" Suzume mimicked her position, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "I'll go back North, I suppose." "Do you have family there?" "Yes, a son." "What's he like?" Kagome asked, curious. Suzume smiled. "He's exactly like his father," she responded, fondness coating her tone. "Looks like him, talks like him, acts like him." She chuckled. "He even worries like him." "It must be nice to have someone who worries about you." "Oh, that depends," Suzume laughed. "Miroku worries unnecessarily." Kagome grinned, and then stood, placing a hand on her grumbling belly. "I'd think like to meet him one day," she said, "but I should probably eat first." Chuckling, Suzume tucked her hands in her sleeves and began the walk back to the shiro.
:..:..:..:..:
Kagome sighed contentedly, leaning back and patting her full belly. Kotono smiled indulgently at her, reaching across the table to take the bowl in front of her. "Full, little one?" "That was delicious," Kagome breathed with a nod, the tender taste of pork and rice still dancing on her tongue. Taking a sip of the refreshing green tea, she licked her lips. "Absolutely delicious." "I'm glad you enjoyed it," the demoness demurred. She collected all of the dishes and set them on a tray, which a maidservant took with a bow. Kagome settled her elbows onto the table and dropped her chin into them. "Is it time for my lesson yet?" "Ah, yes." With a flourish, the demoness produced a scrap of parchment and had the maid fetch a brush and ink from her room; the servant was then dismissed and as she disappeared into the night, Kotono began to write. "How was your lesson with Suzume this morning?" "It was fine," Kagome responded uncertainly, not sure where the conversation was headed. "I have to practice more, though." Kotono shrugged. "That is to be expected," she murmured reassuringly. "That is, after all, why she only teaches you in the morning; so that you may practice when you go back in the afternoon and at night." "I did do a little better earlier tonight," Kagome confessed, remembering that she'd nearly been able to look over her shoulder before her reiki shut itself back behind her heart again. "Precisely. All you have to do is practice, and I'm sure you'll be able to control your reiki in no time." Her hand paused, she made another stroke, and then she smiled and set the small brush to the side, picking up the parchment and sliding across the table. Kagome picked it up. "Skin," she read. "Skin, skin, ski—Kotono, all this says is 'skin'." "Yes, I know." The dragoness stood, and Kagome felt her cheeks flush as the youkai dropped the silk yukata that covered her form. "Ah ah, don't look away...I've already taught you that you are beautiful, and now I'll show you the value of the skin you wear. Come." Nodding obediently, Kagome scrambled to her feet and shed her own yukata, walking naked the few steps from her cushion to Kotono's side. With a smile, the dragoness slipped an arm around her shoulders and began to lead her gently around the room, blowing out torches as she went. "You, Kagome, possess something that is shared by every other being, but is still as unique to you as your personality is; your skin." Torches doused, she navigated around the table and to the front screen, waving a hand toward the door. Kagome felt her flesh ripple in awareness, and then Kotono was sliding the double doors wide open and filling the room with moonlight. Kagome squeaked and darted to the safety of the shadows along the walls. "Kotono!" "Don't worry, little one...no one can see you," her companion assured, laughter in her voice. Kagome scowled. "Really...?" "Really." A clawed hand extended toward her. "I put a barrier up in front of the door. We can see out, but none may see in." Nibbling her lip, Kagome tentatively stepped into the silver rays of the moon's light, taking the hand offered her and returning the trusting smile with a nervous one of her own. "Now," Kotono continued, "the skin you're in is capable of feeling a great many things; heat, chill, pain, pleasure. Some would even say that it is able to feel emotions such as fear or joy." She shrugged. "I don't pretend to understand nor do I claim to know all that the skin has the ability to feel, but I do know at least one thing; skin is most useful when it is aware of itself." Kagome frowned. "How can skin be aware of itself?" The smile that spread across Kotono's lips was slow, and her eyes gleamed with a secret. "I'm going to show you." Kagome nodded, and Kotono moved behind her, placing her hands gently on her shoulders. "I am touching you, correct?" A nod, and Kotono removed her hands. "And now?" "Now you're not," Kagome answered instantly. Kotono hummed. "Yes, exactly." She moved back around into Kagome's line of sight. "To feel a person touching you is an easy task. You have been created with the sensation of physical touch already embedded into your body. However, feeling the touch of something inanimate is a different matter entirely." She gestured toward the sky, where the moon hung heavy and round. "Can you feel the moon's rays on your skin?" "No, that's not possible." "And why not?" the dragoness retorted. "Does the light not touch your skin?" Kagome looked down, clearly seeing the moonlight against her belly. 'Well, technically, I suppose the light is touching me...but...it's not really touching me...is it?' She looked back up, confused. "Are you saying that things like light can touch me the way that a person could?" "Yes, that's precisely what I'm saying." Emerald eyes gleaming with borrowed silver, Kotono spread her hand so that the light splashed against her palm. "If your skin were to be aware of itself, it would know that even something intangible, like moonlight, can be felt just like a physical touch." "But...how am I supposed to make my skin aware of itself?" "In the same way you are aware now of your reiki. Simply concentrate." Kagome turned her gaze to the moon, and then looked down at where its light fell brilliantly across her now pale skin. She frowned. 'Concentrate...? But on what?' A light breeze blew through, and Kagome shuddered, nipples tightening in the chill. Ignoring the sensation, she pursed her lips in thought. 'How do I feel the moonlight? I can always feel my reiki now, because Suzume showed me what it felt like, but—oh!' "What does it feel like?" Kotono reached forward and very lightly swiped the pad of one finger along her arm. "Like that. Soft and warm." With a nod, Kagome took a deep breath and calmed her mind. She rested one hand against her belly, closed her eyes, and let her senses outweigh her logic. It started slowly at first, just a slight change in temperature around her hand, and in the instant she became aware of it, she felt a similar warmth all along her body. She gasped lightly in shock, and the air she drew over her tongue was soft and warm, tasting of summer and the coming fall. With a small, breathless giggle, she moved her hand from her belly and drew it up to her throat, her shadow leaving a wake of cool skin that was immediately heated once more by the moon's touch. "This is amazing," she whispered, turning to Kotono. The dragoness nodded. "Indeed it is," she conceded. "But there is one other thing I want you to learn from this." Turning to face her more fully, Kagome nodded. "What is it?" In a sensual move that was both graceful and lewd, Kotono reached up and cupped the full globes of her breasts. Her eyes slipped shut, and bathed in the soft glow of the moon, she was nothing short of ethereal. "There are many who would warm you if you were cold," she murmured, lips silvery-pink and alluring, "just as there are those who would take your pain away if you were in agony." She paused, kneaded the flesh in her hands, and bit her lip against a low groan. "But amongst the plethora of what your skin can feel and what others can give or take away from it, there is massive erotic promise." Her eyes opened, and the half-lidded gaze was one of the most intense Kagome had ever witnessed. "No one can take that away from you, Kagome." And even after they ended the enlightening lesson, Kagome could feel that erotic promise coursing through her veins.
Author's Note: Next chapter coming soon! Thanks for reading!
~Aubrey
