Battle of Wills (revised)

Kagome fidgetted in her chair restlessly as she felt his eyes fall upon her again. Did he have any idea what his gaze did to her? She sighed softly as she grasped the edges of the soft wooden finish that made up the chair she sat upon. She smiled at him softly as the silence between them seemed to thicken, making it difficult for her to breath. Everything about how he reacted and interacted with those that served him suggested to her that this was a routine they had long practiced. Not once did his servants meet his gaze, she notice. Not once did he stare at them the way he often allowed himself to stare at her. Never did they question him, at least, not that she had seen. Perhaps his request for her not to "hassle them with questions" was more then a master demanding obiedence, but a continuation of tradition. She wondered silently just how long these humans had served the great dog youkai. Her mind slowly brought forth images of a younger Sesshoumaru barking orders to a group of "cowering useless humans" as they scurried about to do as master had requested. Suddenly, she understood why Sesshoumaru had been so displeased with his father's choice in mates. Had Inu Yasha's mother been his fathers servant? It all played out like a sad and tragic novel as she watched the servants bow their heads while bringing food to the long table. Sesshoumaru sat on the end of the table bowing his head in acknowledgment without uttering a word, as each one turned and left almost as quickly as they had entered.

"Sesshoumaru..." She began softly as another sweet smelling dish was placed upon the table. "This really isn't necessary. I.....I could never eat all this."

He raised his hand in a dismissive fashion as he continued to stare at her. It was necessary. He had invited her into his home, and if there was any question in her mind wether she would accept his invitation he intended to drown it in barrage of excess and opulence.

She smiled softly as she bowed her head, not wanting to be rude after his insistance. "Thank you." She spoke softly as she pulled a dish that appeared to be some sort of meat, cut into strips, and then coated in a dark brown sauce. She inhaled deeply. Kagome was surpized at just how hungry she was after eating so much the night before. The night before, the images caused her to shiver. Finding the well sealed forever, the long dark walk from the beach, her.....closeness with Inu Yasha. She bit her lip to stop herself moaning. 'No wonder I'm hungry.' She thought as she attempted to bring herself back to reality. Upon reaching reality she found herself eyeing the table with a puzzled look on her face. 'Where were the..' She paused her thinking to look over to Sesshoumaru, seemingly aware of her confusion but unable to discern what it was that puzzled her.

Kagome couldn't help but grin at him as he continued to stare back at her. 'Why would a demon who never ate -real- food require chopsticks?' She bit her lip to stop from giggling as she pinched at a piece of meat between her fingers, the sticky sauce making it messy, but a little easier to grasp as she picked up the piece and placed it in her mouth. Slowly she began to chew at the soft meat before sucking in slightly as she attempted to cool it against her tongue. It was still hot, ' Very hot.' she noted as she began to fan her mouth with her hand waiting for the heat to subside.

"How is it?" Sesshoumaru chuckled as he leaned his face into his palm, an extremely amused expression on his face.

"Good," Kagome choked out as he nodded at a servant, who quickly left the room, shortly returning with a goblet of cool liquid. "Thank you." Kagome choked out again as the servant turned without acknowledging her words, and simply resumed their position against the wall.

Kagome desperately clutched the goblet and guzzled its contents, as she attempted to put out the fire in her mouth. She let out a soft sigh of satisfaction, as the pain subsided, and her mouth no longer burned. The goblet sounded against the hardness of the table as she brought it down with a sour expression of her face, her sense of taste slowly coming back to her.

"Wine?" She questioned through a raspy voice, evoking a low chuckle from Sesshoumaru as he nodded. Kagome's attention turned to the servant girl who stood against the wall, covering her lips delicately with her hand, attempting to surpress the smile that dared to grace her lips.

Sesshoumaru noticing Kagome's reaction, motioned at the girl with one hand, silently ordering her out of the room. She nodded softly as she continued to look down, the smile she once bore now pushed back from her features as she placed the large container of wine that she had held on the table in front of them before leaving.

"Awwwwww. You didn't have to do that." Kagome whispered softly.

His eyes once again bore through her with interest, as he seemingly waited for her to continue her meal, and did not answer her.

Slowly she grasped another piece of the salty, sweet flesh in her fingers and began to blow on it, letting it cool before she attempted to bring it to her lips again. "How come you don't eat?" She asked with almost childlike innocence. Her breath caught in her throat as she began to worry what his reaction might be.

"I can," He stated simply as his eyes remained locked on Kagome. "I simply choose not to."

She let out a sigh of relief as he seemed unoffended by her curiosity. She quickly popped another piece of meat into her mouth, chewing at her food in a hurried fashion, before swallowing harshly and sipping more wine so that she might answer him. "But, I mean, don't you miss the taste of things. I mean, you don't have to just eat to live, you never just crave something sweet or salty?"

He smirked at her question. "Such things," He began in a smooth voice that made the hairs on the back of Kagome's neck stand up. "are inevitable. However, to give in to such desires is a sign of weakness."

"Oh really?" Kagome grinned playfully as she pinched another piece of meat between her fingers an arched a delicate eyebrow. "Wouldn't want to appear weak." She smirked as she, lightly and deliberately placed a piece of the soft meat against her bottom lip and slowly let her lips wrap around it. "Mmmmmmm" She groaned out in an exaggerated contentment as she continued to nibble on the sweet and salty piece of flesh. "Soooooo good." She grinned at him as she slowly slide the tender strip into her mouth, smirking at him as best she could while attempting to chew.

He smiled, leaning back in his chair, and folding his arms across his chest. "Amusing." He uttered in a pleased tone as he seemed unaffected by her teasings.

"Hmm?" She responded in feigned distraction as she swallowed and began to lick the sticky sauce from her fingers in the same slow and deliberate fashion.

Sesshoumaru seemed to change positions in his seat as he watched her. His amused expression melting to an icy cold stare as he watched her. "Enough." He commanded softly as he began to sit up straighter in his chair. "Enough." He commanded again forcefully, causing Kagome to freeze.

"Sorry." She blushed as she returned her sticky fingers back to the edges of her plate.

"Do not be sorry." He answered in a guarded cold tone. "It seems to be inherant in your nature to irritate me." He smirked slightly as she looked up at him.

Kagome smiled back as she continued to eat normally, sighing softly as the room fell silent again. Her eyes met his again as she caught him stareing. "Couldn't you just eat something...so I don't have to eat alone?" She questioned as she finished another piece. "I kinda feel strange eating in front of you like this, when I know you haven't eaten in ....years?" She finished her sentence in a question, recieving a nod from Sesshoumaru.

"Very well." He answered cooly as his eyes surveyed the table. She watched with amusment as his eyes searched ended on the goblet she had been drinking from. With a nod in her direction he silently requested her permission to remove the drinking vessel before grasping it firmly with one hand and pulling it in front of him. He looked at her, raising the glass as if proposing a toast and placed it against his lips. Slowly, with one hand, he tilted the goblet back letting the cool and bitter fluid slide down his throat.

Kagome could not help but stare at him as he tilt the cup back. The simple action his throat made as he swallowed making her heart race. She bit her lip. Why was this turning her on? She found herself holding her breath, letting it out softly as he placed the goblet against the table again. She suddenly wanted more wine.

"Satisfied?" He questioned as he wiped a droplet of wine away from the corner of his lips with a delicate clawed finger.

"Yes." Kagome responded in a voice so deep that it even took her by surprise.

He smiled back at her, a glint of lust in his eye, as her aroused scent touched his nose.

She quickly averted her gaze and stuck another piece of meat in her mouth, crossing her legs as she realized how acute his senses were. "So how long have you lived here?" She asked as she covered her mouth, still chewing on the piece of food.

"My entire life." He answered matter of factly as he continued to stare at her, his elbows resting against the table.

"So this was your father's home as well?" She questioned as she swallowed again.

"Yes." He answered as an older servant entered the room, bowing his head to Sesshoumaru and Kagome before folding his arms and standing next to Sesshoumaru. "It is ready." He stated quietly as he kept his gaze turned down to the floor.

Sesshoumaru nodded and the man scurried off, exiting the same way he had entered.

"What's ready?" Kagome questioned as she leaned back and pressed her plate away, signifying that she was finished.

"Your room." He stated flatly as he made no attempt to move.

"Oh...." Kagome answered back awkwardly as she crossed her legs more firmly, wishing she knew what he was thinking. She looked down again and then looked to the goblet Sesshoumaru had drank from.

He caught her gaze fall to the goblet and refilled it, placing it in front of her.

"Thank you." She blushed softly as she picked up the large container and brought it her lips, swallowing the bitter tasting drink so quickly that her head grew warm. She normally wouldn't drink, but it seemed to calm her nerves, and she hadn't felt calm in so long. She gave him a pleading look as she placed the empty back down against the table and he quickly grabbed it and refilled it, placing it in front of her again. Her hand brushed his as she hastily grabbed at it, her body reacting again, causing her scent to spike.

Sesshoumaru smiled as she refused to meet his gaze. He could tell she still wanted him. Whatever the confusion in her heart, her body still desired him. It pleased him to know that he could still evoke such responces from her. Slowly, his thoughts drifted back to when they were trapped together in foreign frozen world. How he longed to press his naked flesh to hers. He breathed her scent in deeply as she finished her goblet of wine and then pushed it away as she did her plate.

"Can I see it?" She questioned with a slight slur in her words.

"Hmmm?" He questioned as he quirked an eyebrow. Obviously, the wine had gone to her head.

"Can I see my room?" Kagome questioned again as she looked up at him with an intoxicated smile.

"Of course." Sesshoumaru answered as he rose to his feet.

Kagome smiled brightly as he stood. She jumped to her feet as he did, or what she thought were her feet, before falling to the ground and bursting into a fit of laughter.

"Kagome.." Sesshoumaru began as he raised a surprised eyebrow, "What are you doing on the floor."

She only giggled louder.

He shook his head in disbelief as he rounded the table to find her lying on her back staring up at the bottom of the table.

"Are you all right?" He questioned as he began to crouch down and extend a hand in her direction.

Kagome looked at him with the same intoxicated glint in her eye and pointed a wandering finger at him before speaking. "No......" She answered in a tone that resembled a small child's protest.

"No?" He questioned as he arched an eyebrow.

"No what?" She questioned lazily as she streched her arms above her head and began staring at the bottom of the table again.

Sesshoumaru could not help the smile of amusment that crossed his lips as she lazily began to roll over and crawl out from underneath the table. "You are drunk." He commented as he helped her from under the table, making sure she didn't hit her head.

"How would you know?" Kagome questioned as she poked a finger into his chest, causing him to raise his eyebrow at her again.

Sesshoumaru chuckled softly, he would not have given her so much wine if he knew she had an intolerance to it. Inwardly, he was pleased he had learned this new bit of information about her. Outwardly, he found himself fighting to contain his laughter. "Do you normally lay under the table after a meal?" He teased as he attempted to answer her question.

"Yes!" She began giggling as she stared up at him and tried to keep a straight face, in her intoxicated state, "It is tradition." She finished as she began to crack up.

"I see." He quipped softly, "How rude of me to break your tradition."

"Yes." Kagome answered back as she began to back away from him towards the hallway. "You sir are rude, and for interupting a sacred family tradition..." Her words came out in slurs as he slowly walked closer to her, as if stalking an animal. "I challenge you." She stated with a heated gaze, raising her hands in a karate stance.

Sesshoumaru smirked. In her drunken state she seemed much more relaxed and unguarded. He enjoyed the casual feeling her body language now communicated. She teased him as if she were teasing an old friend, rather then a demon. "Very well," He grinned as he moved closer to her. "I accept." He smiled as she faltered slightly, unsure if he were serious or not. In an instant he was upon her, holding her wrists above her head and pinning her to the wall, his leg between hers as he held her in place and helpless. She struggled slightly against him, her eyes fluttering shut as she finally gave in to his relentless grasp. He growled softly as he claimed his dominance, and buried his face in her hair, taking in her scent as he placed his lips against her ear. "Do you conceed?" He questioned softly.

"Yes." She moaned out softly, as he placed both her wrists in one of his hands and let his other trail down to the ties of her Kimono. She sighed softly as he began to kiss her neck, the soft passionate kisses causing her to turn away. "Don't." She pleaded softly.

"Why?" He questioned softly as he continued to ravish her neck with kisses, his hand pushing up the fabric of her Kimono as he kneeded at the tender flesh of her thigh.

She looked away, not wanting to answer.

Sesshoumaru pulled back, his hand going to her chin as he brought her eyes to his. "Why?" He questioned again.

"I can't." Kagome turned her head to the side again as he released her chin.

His hands instead moved down, grasping her thighs, and releasing her wrists as he pulled her off the ground and pinned her small form between himself and the wall. "Tell me why." He demanded as he began to tease her earlobe with his delicate tongue.

"I'm affraid..." She responded softly with a gasp, wrapping her arms around his neck, as he shoved his body roughly against hers. She moaned softly as his kisses worked their way down her neck and onto her collar bone. "I'm affraid......... of falling in love with you." She whipsered softly causing Sesshoumaru to pull back and look into her eyes. The golden pools that were his eyes seemed to shimmer with a fire she had never seen from him before. She looked away again as he lowered her feet to the ground and straighted her Kimono.

Sesshoumaru grabbed her chin, forcing her once again to look him in the eye. "I love you Kagome." He uttered softly as the fire in his eyes seemed to burn brighter. He held her gaze, her intoxicated state making her gaze seem slightly far away. "You are drunk." He stated softly as he took a step back, regaining his stoic and controlled appearance. "Let me show you to your room." He stated in a monotone voice as he extended his arm.

Kagome smiled softly at him, her eyes drooping closed as the wine began to work its magic.

He noticed the tired expression on her face and scooped her up in his arms. "You have no head for wine." He uttered softly as he began to carry her down the hall.

"Pfffft...Your drunk." She responded in a semi-concious state.

Sesshoumaru smirked as she began to pass out in her arms. He had hoped she would be concious when he showed her the room he had prepared for her for the first time. 'There would be plenty of time for that in the morning.' He concluded as he pushed the door open with his foot and walked over to the makeshift bed, setting her gently against the hand sewn fabric. "Drunk..." He mused as he remembered her words and lightly let his fingertips brush against her face.

"Perhaps." He sighed softly as he slowly exited the room, shutting the door behind him.