Seshiko

OMG...I feel awful. I just found out that the second half of this story never uploaded. It was all supposed to be in one chapter and the rest of it is just not there!!! And that after I promised a lemon. *bangs head on keyboard* Please forgive me!!!!!!


She was fuming. She was so angry that she could barely speak and railed silently to herself. Alone in her chamber, Seshiko had been waiting the better part of the night for him to show. She chewed on her anger and thought of the curses that she would invoke upon Ichigo once he deigned to show his ugly face. This was intolerable.

Seshiko went to the narrow window that was hardly more than a slit in the wall. From there she could look out over the mountains and realized that the moon had very nearly set. It was very late, she would have been better to spend her lonely waiting hours asleep rather than steeped in anticipation. And dread.

Who was she trying to fool? There was no way she could have slept, knowing what was coming. Seshiko paced her room restlessly, the sharp points of her claws digging into her fists. Calm down, she told herself. Ichigo is doing this to be a bastard, just like he always does. It amuses him to humiliate me like this, he wants me to rise to his bait. Well, I will not lose control. Not for him, not for anyone.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when a light knock sounded against her door. Her breath seemed to have vacated her chest and she had to remember to draw a breath before speaking. As it was her voice came out soft and breathless, like the voice of scared little girl.

"Enter."

He pushed the door in and gave her severe look. "I trained you better than that," he snapped. "You do not bid entry to anyone you do not know. Even you, Seshiko, should know better than that."

She glared at him. "I've been waiting for hours," she returned waspishly. "Who the hell else would come knocking on my bedroom door so late? I don't think I'm in danger of attack in my own room in the middle of the night."

"Then you are more a fool than I ever took you for," he said coolly. Ichigo surveyed her room with an air of curiosity and disdain. "Not much for decoration, are you?"

She flushed, already he had her on the defensive. Her room was spartan, a plain, firm futon served as her bed and around the walls were various weapons, bits of leather and armor, a few scattered scrolls that she had been studying, maps and intelligence that her father's spies had gathered. "What were you expecting?" she asked sweetly. "Flower arrangments and delicate works of art? I am a soldier, as you should know. Wasn't it you who trained me to be one?"

Ichigo snorted in amusement. "And now I'm here to train you on how to be a woman in bed. I can only hope that you take to these lessons with your usual enthusiasm. Otherwise this is going to be the most tedious night of my life."

"Let's just get to it," she snarled, fed up with his condescending attitude. She felt vulnerable, wearing a delicate soft kimono of the palest green. It was so thin it was nearly sheer, it had belonged to her late mother. After his sarcastic comments regarding her scent she had forgone wearing her usual sleeping wear. It made her feel as if she was naked before him and Seshiko twitched a little, realizing that he was now staring at her body with an open and interested expression.

She forced herself to stand still as he approached, moving with a catlike grace that was enhanced by his dark, close fitting apparel. She couldn't remember the last time that she had seen him not wearing his armor and knew that her face was starting to darken with a flush of embarrassment.

"Not bad," he said at last, completing a circle around her. "That color is actually becoming on you, for once you don't look like a foot soldier." She didn't answer but kept her eyes fixed on the wall behind him, her jaw locked. She flinched when his finger touched her chin and trailed down to her throat. Seshiko raised her eyes to his and saw a faint amusement glowing within them. This was happening, she didn't know what to expect but her brain seemed full of mist at the moment, dull panic roaring in her ears.

The panic retreated immediately when he lowered his hand and firmly cupped her breast. Angry, she wanted to pull away and was surprised when he just reached around and grabbed the back of her neck. His fingers squeezed and caressed her breast almost harshly, making her hiss at the rough handling.

"What the problem?" he demanded.

She glared at him. "No problem." She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry out if he hurt her. His hand gentled at that moment and he stepped closer until they were only inches from each other.

"Are you afraid of me, Seshiko?" he whispered intimately in her ear.

"Don't flatter yourself," she ground out between clenched teeth. His hand shifted to her chin, taking hold of her roughly. He stared into her eyes as if searching for something, her ice blue gaze glittered back at him. "No, you are not afraid," he murmured thoughtfully. "In fact, I'd say that you were almost eager for this."

"Eager for it to be over, yes," she answered, unable to help herself. He smiled at that and caressed her cheek gently.

"I understand. I would feel the same in your place."

That unexpected admission caught her quite off guard. Ichigo noticed and met her gaze directly. "I must also confess, since I'm being honest now, that you are indeed quite beautiful."

She blushed immediately and dropped her eyes. He moved forward quickly, seizing the back of her hair and covering her mouth with his. She struggled then, her fists against his chest but he just growled and kissed her harder, not letting her escape from him or even breathe as he shoved his tongue past her teeth and invaded her mouth. His grip was hard and unrelenting and he forced the kiss on her until she finally bit him as hard as she could.

"Wench!" he snarled, shoving her away from him. Blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth and he glared at her. "What was that for?"

Seshiko was panting and still tasted his blood on her lips. She swallowed hard and returned his furious glare. "You were doing that on purpose to provoke me. Don't think I'm going to let you just do whatever you want, I'm not about to become your plaything, Ichigo!"

Ichigo laughed unpleasantly. "As I recall you volunteered me for this duty. Are you saying that I must also not enjoy it?"

He was on her so fast that she hardly even saw him move. Seshiko found herself being pressed hard into the wall, a clawed hand at her throat. She could have fought back, but she knew that each of those razor sharp points was able to tear out her throat like a knife through rice paper. Ichigo leaned in close and licked her ear, his tongue leaving a hot trail down her cheek to her jawline. "I prefer my females to be submissive and know their place."

Burning with anger, she bared her teeth at him. "I'm not your female, Ichigo. I would never willingly bed you, not unless I was out of better options."

"You think you'll receive gentler treatment at the hand of the Daimyo?"

"I think," she hissed, her voice low and vicious, "that you've been waiting for this. Don't think you can force me to submit to you."

His finger brushed her lips. "Are you saying you've changed your mind, little Shi-chan?"

She was instantly enraged at his use of her father's name for her. He's trying to provoke me, she realized, watching his face. He's doing this to get me to back out, order him to leave. Could it be that Ichigo found the prospect of mating her that repulsive?

"Why?" she asked. His expression flickered and he backed away, letting her go. Seshiko pursued him, grabbing his arm hard as he tried to turn away. "I know what you're trying to do. That's why you were late in coming here, hoping I'd be so angry I'd tell you to leave. When that didn't work you chose to act so repellent that I'd drive you out of my room. Why are you doing this, Ichigo?"

He sighed and looked tired. "My raping you isn't going to help you, Seshiko. It won't help you deal with Inutaisho. I know that's what you are expecting from him but my guess is that you're wrong. Inutaisho won't force you either. You will have to come to terms with your duty and your part in this treaty willingly."

"How can you be so sure?"

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Because, you foolish little girl, I've studied him. Unlike you, I believe there's more to understanding your enemy than just an evaluation of how he behaves on the battlefield. You need to understand how he interacts with his own people, why he makes choices, decisions. That's what I've done for your father for the last twenty years. I hope you didn't think he kept me around for my winning personality."

She stared at him, suddenly seeing his role in her father's decisions for what it was. Kashikoto was a fierce fighter, a more than capable leader. But he was no diplomat and no strategist. For all this time she'd only thought of Ichigo as one of her father's captains, a highly skilled warrior, her teacher in that regard. He was in favor of the treaty that her father had brokered, he'd been pushing for an alliance for years.

But he hadn't been in favor of her part in it, that much she understood. He thought her a foolish child, a temper tantrum of a brat, but not equal to the subtler parts of the delicate arrangement he'd put years into orchestrating. She suddenly understood that Ichigo was more loyal to her father than she'd even guessed. He was loyal enough to protect Kashikoto from his own mistakes, even ones concerning the lord's own daughter.

"Help me then," she said quietly. "I can't go into this without knowing what to expect. I can't just surrender to him, lay back and do my duty. I'm not made that way. Damn you, I'm not only useful for producing an heir. I demand my chance to prove my worth to my people."

"I don't think of you as useless," he said, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "You are more than capable to taking your father's place if need be. If he were making a decision that you felt was unwise, would you stop him or would you just obey him because he's your father?"

Seshiko considered the question. "I would voice my opinion," she began carefully.

Ichigo almost choked on his laughter. "I know that, girl," he snickered. "You don't exactly hold your tongue when you're angry."

She found herself smiling back at him. "Neither do you, sensei. To answer your question, I would remain loyal to my father, because he is my father, but my first loyalty would be to my clan. If my father were bent on a plan that I thought would destroy us, I would do whatever I had to."

"I hope you remember that," he whispered, his eyes holding hers. "You might someday find yourself in a position where you must question your loyalty. You might someday have to choose between your father and your clan, or perhaps something else."

"I will follow my heart," she said stubbornly. "I'm not a weak woman to bend at the will of others. I decide my actions, I decide my fate. I chose to bear this duty for my people although it was not my decision to make."

He was still smiling, a soft, wry smile instead of the amused condescension she was used to. "I believe you, Seshiko," he said, cupping her face in his palms. "You are indeed very brave. Your father has chosen well." With that, he leaned close and kissed her forehead very gently, his hands lingering in her hair as he did so. Seshiko was caught off guard once again and this time only closed her eyes in response.

Her hands reached for his, curling around his fingers. "You are lying to me again, Ichigo. You think I'm an insufferable brat."

His eyes sparkled with humor. "I never said you weren't."

Impulsively, she darted forward and kissed him, lingering just long enough to warm his lips with her own. She didn't know what made her do it, but for once it didn't feel like surrender to meet him. Ichigo's hands tightened on hers and he kissed her back, tenderly this time, not invasive and brutal as before. She leaned into him, tasting him, letting him taste her as well. The kiss deepened and his hands left hers to settle on the curve of her hips, drawing him to her before he leaned back and regarded her seriously.

"You are improving," he said, a sly twist to his mouth.

Seshiko swallowed hard and licked her lips. "Kiss me again," she said. Unlike the first kiss, which had put her into a defensive panic, this one had opened the door for her. Strange sensations were flooding her body, waking her to a tingling that started with her toes and went through her like a lightning strike. It wasn't unlike the thrill she got in battle, the blood lust that overwhelmed her and turned her into a minion of death. But it was more pleasurable. She wanted to feel that again, she wanted to feel that delicious sensation.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow at her request before pulling her firmly against him, his hands still gentle. Then he kissed her again, slowly leaning towards her, watching her face. His tongue stroked her lips, danced over her fangs and Seshiko opened her mouth wider, letting her jaw go completely slack and just hung there in his embrace. Without realizing it, she had discovered the pleasure of surrender, of giving over herself for herself. His tongue probed hers, teasing her and daring her to use her own. Tentative and breathing hard, she tried, pressing the slick muscle of his tongue away so that she could use her own to invade his mouth. He captured it with his lips and sucked gently, toying with her before casually breaking the kiss.

"Did you like it?" he whispered, his breath hot against her cheek.

She wanted to answer yes, she wanted to ask him what she should try next, but the words wouldn't come. Slowly, he eased away from her embrace. "It's okay," Ichigo murmured as he slowly pulled at the sash of her robe. "You don't have to tell me."

She was trembling, her knees were shaking when she felt the silk pool around her feet. Seshiko didn't dare open her eyes, her breathing becoming heavier as Ichigo touched her body. His fingertips stroked over her shoulders, circled her breasts and caressed her stomach before sliding over her hips. It was too much, she was going to explode. The panic was still beating in her ears but there was more to it now. Desire, her body was awake and telling her what it wanted. It wanted more than violence, more than prowess on the battlefield. It needed more than that and so did she.

She barely realized it when Ichigo pressed her backwards, guiding her to the futon. Seshiko's head was swimming with the racing of desire in her blood. It was delicious and unbearable at the same time, this need that was pooling between her legs and in the pit of her belly. She was young, it was possible her body hadn't full matured or that she had been just too focused on violence, but she'd never wanted a man before. She lay back willingly, closing her eyes as Ichigo explored her body with his mouth and fingertips. She had been so caught up in never submitting to anyone, never letting anyone win against her, that she had never realized some things were better just enjoyed instead of fought.

Ichigo's lips closed over her breast and Seshiko gasped, arching against him, almost fighting him out of instinct. Burning pleasure flooded her, pierced her core and she didn't know what to do. Firmly, but without any cruelty, he kept her pinned to the futon and sucked harder at her breast. His tongue was relentless, his fangs grazed her skin until she wanted to scream. He seemed to sense that she was trying to hold back and smiled into her soft skin. Very well, she could try to resist if that's what she needed, if that was what she needed to prove to herself.

His finger slipped between her legs and touched her gently. She twisted away from him, panting hard and fighting in spite of herself. He kissed her lips, hardly more than a brush of skin to skin. "Don't fight so much," he whispered.

Her face was red and sweat was pouring from her as he continued to stroke her, guide her closer to what her body was so desperately craving. Ichigo kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, her throat and her breasts. "Just relax," he said, nuzzling her. His caress increased in rhythm and she whimpered against him, hiding her face in his shoulder. "Come for me, Seshiko," he murmured. "Just let it go."

She felt so warm, burning almost as her blood raced in her veins. Seshiko was trembling, her body yearning towards something she didn't know how to identify, didn't even know she'd been needing. Was this it? Was this how it was supposed to feel? She felt like she was drowning in her own response, so hot, so wet, so needy. How had he done this to her so quickly, she was no innocent about the mechanics of sex, she understood how males and females were supposed to join. She just never expected it to feel like this.

She couldn't fight it anymore, the tide was unbearable. Clutching him, she cried out, writhing like a feral and helpless creature, caught in the waves of her own pleasure. Ichigo covered her gasping mouth with his, urgent and demanding, coaxing more from her as her thighs shook helplessly and tears leaked from her eyes. She had never experienced anything like that before, never in her darkest dreams had she thought that her body would take control of her.

Her limbs felt heavy and Seshiko felt washed away by the delicious lassitude that filled her. If that was what sex was supposed to be, she was regretting not giving it a chance either. She understood herself now, this was part of her, who was supposed to be. It had nothing to do with submission and everything to do with pleasure and release. She hadn't felt this euphoric since the first time she'd killed a man with her own bare hands.

"That was quite nice," Ichigo commented, leaning over her again. Seshiko opened her eyes and looked at him, a lazy smile still on her lips. He just traced her mouth with a finger and grinned back at her. "I had a feeling you weren't half the frigid bitch you pretended to be."

That made her angry, the implied insult and the amused tone of his voice. She started to sit up so she could glare at him with more authority. "Why you..." she began.

He laughed and pushed her back down. "You aren't done yet," he teased. Gently, he pushed her back and settled his weight on her. Seshiko glared at him, naked while he was still fully clothed. She knew that wasn't all there was to it and slowly raised her hands to untie his shirt. Ichigo grinned at that, his eyes lighting up. "Ready for the next lesson?" he taunted as she started to explore him.

"Yes, sensei." Ichigo grunted and rolled to the side, letting her undress him. He supposed it might be better if she went at her own speed for this. Not that Seshiko didn't know what a naked male looked like, but this would be her first time for putting her hands on one. He watched her intense expression as she pulled at his shirt and smiled. She was definitely eager to learn and he could smell her arousal building again.

Seshiko had seen naked males before, many times. This was different, this was Ichigo and once these clothes were off she had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen next. His muscles were tense, hard as stone as she tapped her fingers against his belly. There wasn't so much as an ounce of extra flesh on him anywhere. His skin was paler than hers and she frowned to herself as her fingertips found rough raised scars.

"Where did you get these?" she asked, forgetting that she was naked and he had just made her squirm with pleasure. Ichigo sat up, shedding the shirt and turning his back to her. There were more scars there, crisscrossed pale lines, not disfiguring or anything. It confused her, youkai healed fast and usually without scarring. She mentioned the fact and Ichigo laid back down, one arm under his head.

"In order to scar like this, the wounds are not allowed to heal. When I was a child, I was punished for being different. I can't remember a time when I wasn't recovering from a beating. That's how I learned to fight like I do, why you'll never see me give mercy in battle. I was raised by a savage wolf youkai tribe who saw me as a taint on their pack's bloodline. My mother died birthing me, I will still never know why they didn't drown me when I was born."

Seshiko stared at him. "You're half wolf? I never would have guessed."

He yawned, bored by the conversation. "Yes, my mother was raped in battle by an inuyoukai warrior. As she was the pack leader's daughter, I guess that's why she wasn't put to death for that humiliation and why I was allowed to be born and grow up. Didn't make them treat me any kinder, but that's the past."

Ichigo sat up, his expression dark and intense. "I'm more interested in the present. And you."

She yelped when he suddenly flipped her over, throwing her onto her back as he shrugged out of his pants. Her eyes widened when she saw him unclothed. That was going to fit inside of her? Instinctively, she started to squirm away from him. He planted both hands on her hips and stopped her. Leaning over her, his breath hot against her cheeks, he stared into her eyes. "Are you afraid again? I'm warning you it will probably hurt, but I can't believe you're afraid of a little pain."

"I'm not afraid," she lied. She couldn't admit it, that having him put that inside her was frightening. His fingers slipped between her legs again and caressed her, finding her body willing and wet for him even if she was trying to resist again.

"I promise I will be gentle," he said quietly. "I'll take it slowly so you can adjust. Don't be afraid, Seshiko."

His fingers were making her squirm again and she could feel her body's aroused acceptance of him. "Just do it," she murmured, laying back and closing her eyes. She spread her thighs apart as wide as she could and prepared herself for the invasion. Don't react, she told herself sternly. Just let him get it over with. Better him than Inutaisho, better that I learn to deal with this on my own terms.

Ichigo pressed against her, she felt the hardness of his flesh as he parted her, searching for her entrance. He hadn't lied, he was going slow, but she noticed his eyes looked a little glazed and he was trembling as he eased into the folds of her body. She tried not to let herself stiffen, keep her body relaxed, but it was no good. It hurt and it was a strange type of pain. A stretching of muscles and tissue, not entirely unwelcome or invasive she would have thought. But he was going too slow, he was being too careful. Better for her to just get it over with.

Seshiko worked her hands around to his waist as he held himself over her, dug her nails into his back and wrapped her legs around his waist and squeezed hard. Ichigo was surprised, expecting her to resist instead of drawing him to her and plunged all the way into her without meaning to. Seshiko shrieked, pain exploded from deep inside of her, a ripping feeling like she'd not even imagined. Something had to be wrong.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, resting his forehead against her shoulder. He kept his hips tight against hers as the girl whimpered and tried to push him away. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "Try to relax, Seshiko. The pain will go away, it won't last."

Seshiko forced herself to lay quietly, hoping that he really wasn't lying about the pain. Ichigo brushed her hair back from her eyes and kissed her cheek. Then he kissed her forehead, her eyelids and moved slowly to lay his lips against hers again. The kiss was sweet and she found herself responding, parting her lips and allowing his tongue to seek hers. His kiss deepened and intensified, probing as she returned it. Seshiko began to feel warm again, warm inside and out, the flood of passion returning to lift her gently upon its waves. She forgot about the pain, which had subsided to a dull ache and squirmed a little to show him that she was ready to continue.

He pulled away and then pressed deeply against her, filling her and Seshiko murmured his name, lacing her hands in his thick black hair. As they slowly moved together, the tide inside her rose, making her gasp and breathe harder. It didn't hurt at all now. Not a bit.

Ichigo's strong body covered hers, her hands roaming over his muscular shoulders. She could feel the way his body moved, every muscle tensing and releasing in some preordained rhythm. Clumsily, she tried to match him, lifting her hips to meet him. Groaning, she twisted her hands in his hair again and whispered his name.

"Faster, Ichigo. Please faster."

His hands reached down to lift her thighs so they wrapped around him and he thrust into her, sweat making his hair stick to his face and his eyes almost glowed with intensity. Seshiko couldn't take her eyes from his face, contorted in passion, it answered something inside of her, something she had been missing in her endless pursuit of violence and battle. She raised her hands to caress his face and he leaned forward to devour her mouth with a breathless kiss. Their bodies moved furiously, the air filled with musk of sex, the soft moans and urgent sounds of lust echoed in her ears. Each fiery thrust took her closer, her fingers clenched on his arms.

Her legs were trembling, his chest was slick with sweat, coating her with it and the hot scent of aroused passion. Her body was answering every movement, reveling in the push and hard length of him inside her. She moaned loudly, holding him to her and aching as he pounded her hips into the futon until she thought her bones might shatter from the force of his driving thrusts. Seshiko couldn't help herself, she wound her hands in his hair and dragged him down to kiss him again until he pulled his face away from hers with a lust soaked groan.

He growled her name, pressing his face into her shoulder and shuddered hard as he came violently, hands bruising her arms as he strained against her. Seshiko cried out, holding him tight as his release triggered hers by sheer response. She felt his smile against the skin of her throat and he rolled to the side, curling around her and soothing her with soft touches and whispers.

*****

In the morning when she woke, he was already gone. Seshiko blushed, wondering what he'd say when they saw each other again. She need not have worried, as she never did see him again. Her father told her that he had disappeared without so much as a word. At first she was angry with him, wondering why he hadn't even bothered to say goodbye to her. In her heart she knew the truth. She would be leaving in a few days to meet her new husband her destiny. Ichigo refused to do anything that would distract her from that, once again showing her that he believed in her purpose, her father's plans. Ichigo had done more than anyone else to help the Azaryu clan cement this alliance, the one that would bring about peace.

And the downfall of a proud and arrogant lord. Seshiko smiled, thinking of her father's plan. Once she had conceived and born the Daimyo's heir, the Azaryu child that would rule in his place, her father's plan would proceed without the great general ever knowing how he had been betrayed.

*****

"I have done as you asked, my lord," Ichigo said. "The Azaryu will be coming to sign the treaty. Kashikoto has something up his sleeve regarding your new bride. I urge you to use caution regarding her."

The lord Daimyo snorted, his long white hair waving in the wind. Many years ago he had sent this very special spy to infiltrate the Azaryu, gain Kashikoto's trust. Without Ichigo's careful manipulations, they might never have forced the cagey clanlord into a position where he had to accept the lord Daimyo's terms. The treaty would stand, at least for as long as Inutaisho needed it.

"I don't know what that old bastard thinks he's going to accomplish by forcing his daughter on me," Inutaisho grumbled, kicking absently at a stone. Sure as hell there was some devious plot about to be hatched, he was counting on it. He thrived on this sort of deft machination, he was actually looking forward to see where Kashikoto would strike.

"Neither do I, my lord," Ichigo said quietly. He glanced at the lord's face, handsome, beautiful actually, with pale skin and glittering golden eyes. He gets that coloring from his mother, Ichigo thought wryly. He had never laid eyes on the previous Daimyo, who had been a brutal beast of ruler. Savage in battle, vicious and cruel. His white haired son was nothing like him. He had told Seshiko as much. Inutaisho would never force her, not anymore than he would rape a wounded wolf demoness after a pitched battle with her kin.

If Inutaisho guessed at Ichigo's real identity, he never mentioned it, never acknowledged it any more than Ichigo did. The half wolf, half inuyoukai claimed no clan, no name other than his own. He was a man without country, without bloodline, without loyalty other than what he chose to name.

"Where will you go now?" the lord Daimyo asked. He hated to cut loose someone like Ichigo, an effective spy, a deft operative. But he couldn't chance that any of the Azaryu would recognize him at the fortress and Ichigo would have declined such an invitation anyway.

"I wil go east," Ichigo said, turning his gaze in that direction. "I will not return to the West."

"As you wish," Inutaisho said quietly. "I wish you well. Have you any other information for me, what sort of woman is my new consort?"

Ichigo smiled cryptically, walking away from the lord Daimyo without bowing or waiting to be dismissed. There were very few that were as at ease in the Tai-Youkai's company. Inutaisho's younger brother Inoki was one. Ichigo...was another.

"She's Azaryu," he said, throwing the comment over his shoulder. "I suggest you respect that. And her."