Across the Ages

I know, I know I promised to update again yesterday but ended up stuck in traffic going to the airport instead. *sigh* Here are two new chappies for you to make amends and soon for the Hellsing story. Forgive me now? No? Damn..... *offers pocky* How about now?

Chapter Twenty Six


Long hours passed in the that strange state of half being. That half wakefulness that kept Ayeka in a darkened world. She was aware of two things, the hard heat of a body against hers and the warm wet laps against her wounded shoulder. It was these sensations that brought her to the forefront of her mind. Her mind sharpened to isolate and process what she felt, what she sensed.

She tried to open her eyes but they didn't obey. She felt heavy, the pain in her shoulder dulled to a throbbing ache. Not unbearable in the least, just there. Those were the worst kind in her opinion. Those pains that you had no choice but to deal with. She'd had so many of them. Too many and she was tired.

Her thoughts were a jumbled cacophony that she tried to assemble into order, but it was no use. They continued to spiral and swirl in her brain, maddening colors and images that made her grit her teeth. Her arm skimmed over the blankets to find the edge of the large bed.

He watched her small movements with a watchful golden eye. She'd been restless in her sleep. Small whimpers escaping the confines of her lips. She had been dreaming. He wondered what about. He'd made certain the bleeding remained controlled. A tiny trickle had begun in the night, awakening his mind.

He'd seen that she'd opened the wound with her mild thrashing about. He'd anchored her as best he could without crushing her with his much heavier weight. Caging her slim legs beneath one of his own. His heavy arm, toned muscle draped over her unharmed shoulder. For a while she'd been peaceful as though the very nearness of him brought her the sweet lassitude of a quiet mind.

Ayeka tried to pull herself to the edge of the bed with her free arm. An arm tightened around her drawing her back into the warmth of the powerful chest. She whimpered as that questing tongue found a particularly painful area. Sesshoumaru swirled his tongue there lightly, and upon hearing her small sound of distress he nuzzled against her throat.

He would have to wait a little longer to take her to task for her actions. He was so angry that she had been hurt, that he, her mate, the most powerful creature known, had been powerless to stop it. That his hanyou half sibling had been there and he had not. He was furious that she'd set the plan to go and that he had allowed her to. Him and his damnable word, damnable pride.

There were a great many things that he knew must be discussed between them. For her, flight was no longer an option. For him, backing down was not. Two dominant spirits would clash, and his youkai would not allow her to defy him on these many things. But wasn't it that defiant fire, that bright fire of her that drew him in the first place? The hot summer to his icy winter. The heartbeat hidden beneath the snow.

He would wait. He'd demand that she remain in the chambers until her strength returned. Those few days would be hell for her. She'd always hated confinement of any form. He'd speak to Inuyasha in the morning and find just what the hell had happened in the future. For now, he would merely hold her, tend to her.

Ayeka stilled, the blackness arising again to overtake her and she let herself fall into the abyss of sleep. Dreams cascaded to her and in them wove the threads of memory. Her memories, so long buried, in that dark corner of her mind that she so often kept lock. Where HE lived.

Ayeka knelt on one knee, hand over her heart, head bowed. Her helmet tucked beneath her arm. "You did excpetionally well General Ayeka." Inutaisho spoke from his tent. The armies would clash in a mere two day's time. Her assination of the panther demon had disrupted much of the enemy's activities.

With the opposition in disarray victory would be swift and sure. Inutaisho was greatly pleased by the girl's abilities. He knew she'd nearly fallen. Knew she had been injured. He'd learned all when a cold and distant Sesshoumaru swept into his tent and demanded that such a thing not be attempted again.

"She did kill him Sesshoumaru." his father had reminded him. His aloof son, met his gaze fully, "Were you aware that this was the first life she has taken?" he asked. Inutaisho had suspected that, but she was a fighter and fighters killed. That her first had been so horribly bloody was not something he would have wished on her, however those deaths that would follow would seem a little easier for it.

"She is a soldier Sesshoumaru." Inutaisho said slowly. His son drew himself to his full height, a mere inch shy of his own impressive height. "She is only human.". The demon lord kept his expression blank. Ah, so there was the crux. Her humanity, a creature more fragile that they themselves. Her fragility bothered his son.

Was it possible that Sesshoumaru had worried for her? A grizzled soldier and friend to the dog lord and told him of the wounds to the woman's hands and how his son, himself had seen to them. Sesshoumaru was not one to take on such matters. He might easily have commanded that she be cared for. He had not.

Sesshoumaru remained steadfast and silent. As if daring his father to speak his thoughts aloud. Inutaisho met his gaze head on. "She is my general Sesshoumaru. It was her duty to kill for me. It is also her duty to die for me if that is my wish." The bare truth. Even Ayeka accepted that. Of course he would not willing send her to her death.

Sesshoumaru's frame stiffened ever so slightly at his father's words. A lesser being might not have noticed it, but of course Inutaisho was not lesser. He did notice. "Why the sudden care Sesshoumaru?" he asked. Sesshoumaru's eyes betrayed nothing the shutters of his cold indifference sliding into place.

"I do not care father," he stated coldly, "She has been an asset to your forces. I was merely reminding you that she is nothing like us. She can fall easily.". Of course. while, they were not unkind to humans, most demons in their social sphere did not wish to grow too close. They were lesser creatures, unfit for demon attentions.

"Why did you tend her wounds?" Inutaisho asked then. Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and walked to the tent flap. "I merely did not wish to have to worry about her in battle. A soldier unable to hold a weapon is of no use to me." The flap slid just on his final words. Inutaisho stared at the door for several minutes. His son had stated nothing but truths, Sesshoumaru was intelligent enough to put aside his own feelings to see a mission done. Perhaps he had read too much into this.

With a shake of his great head he turned back to the many maps scattered across his desk. This campaign would not be difficult tactic wise but the weather, that was another story. Damn panthers using winter to their advantage. Ah, but now that his little human general had taken down one of their battle princes, he had little to worry about.

So here she was, hands still slightly tender bowing before the others. Being congratulated on her excellent work in cold blooded murder. She lifted her eyes to lock with the honey gold orbs of her lord and leader. "My lord I thank you for your kind words but I must interject that I am only here and alive because your son Lord Sesshoumaru was also there."

He chuffed softly. Competent and kindhearted. He cracked a roguish smile, "We are well aware of the prince's fondness for bloodshed.". This was met with good natured nods and chuckles among the others. Sesshoumaru was not one to be trifled with, he was far too powerful and ruthless. Cold intelligence that had manifested itself at a young age.

She blushed hotly. She had not meant to make them laugh, merely set the record straight. Her sidelong glance fell on the person under discussion. He did not look at her, merely kept his chin raised, his eyes on his father. Inutaisho nodded, she was still kneeling. "Get up Ayeka," he said lightly, "I do not expect you to remain this way."

She stood, proud and straight, though so much smaller than her peers. Her eyes, he noticed lacked the usual sparkle. She was tired. With an easy tone he called a halt to the evening meeting and dismissed his council. Ayeka was just leaving when he called her back.

She turned at once, digging in her robes. She withdrew the killing bauble he'd given her. "I managed to hold onto this my lord. I return it to you." she said softly, extending her hand to him. The gleaming silver ring lay in her palm. He looked from it to her eyes, "You may keep it Ayeka, if you wish." he told her. She nodded. She didn't want it. Didn't want to think of what this seemingly harmless item had done. What she had done.

"He was your first kill." Inutaisho remarked. Her eyes fell, and she nodded. He looked at her bowed head, "You are unhurt?". Again she nodded. Perhaps he had asked too much of her. She raised her head and met his gaze, "Does my lord require anything further of me? I wished to visit my men." she told him. He waved her away and she went.

Ayeka did just that. She went and walked among her men, speaking soft encouragments and bawdy tales. They were her comfort. Her strength. For them, she had to be the rock, the anchor of reason. She could not be weak. Her father would not approve.

A few hours later, she made her way to her own tent. She tossed her cloak on a large trunk, added a bit of wood to the brazier that warmed her makeshift quarters. She slowly peeled the gloves from her hands. The palms still pink, the bright red tracings of the wire a glaring reminder. They were ugly.

"Vanity is not a luxury I can indulge." she reminded herself, "I have things to do. No time to feel sorry for myself. They will scar, who cares about that?" She turned intent on gathering her sleeping clothes when she bumped into a solid wall of armor covered chest.

She stumbled back, wide eyes flickering up, even as her hand went to her hip. "Sesshoumaru." she breathed, releasing her hold on her weapon. He stood so close to her, how had she not heard him? Not noticed him enter? "I was already here." he answered and she glared at him. Had he read her thoughts? Why was he in her personal tent?

Before she could ask, he had taken hold of her hand. He lifted it, and she curled her fist tightly. He arched a brow at this. "I have seen them before." he reminded her. She looked away. Sesshoumaru gently uncurled her fingers. His own taloned hand so much larger. Standing as they were, she reached the top of his ribcage.

His eyes strayed from her averted face to the abused palm in his grasp. "They will scar." he agreed. Damn him, he'd heard her bout of self pity. Wonderful. "They are not ugly." he went on. Her green eyes slowly moved to his face. She was looking for signs of deception.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice a ragged whisper. His nearness affected her. He knew that, could smell it on the air. Feel it in the pulse that leapt beneath his grip. He locked eyes with hers. "I came to ascertain the extent of your healing. It seems that you do not require a healer." he said simply.

She tried to tug her hand away, but he did not release her. His eyes narrowed on her upturned face. "You will not do something so reckless again." he bit out, his voice hard, daring her to challenge. She glared up at him, she did not fear him in the least, perhaps it would be better that she did. He growled softly, a low menacing sound. Her eyes widened and he almost smiled.

"How dare you?" she demanded, his gloating vanished,"How dare you come into MY tent and presume to order me about?". He narrowed his eyes further, damnable woman just who did she think she was talking to? He growled more loudly. She pointed a finger at him, "Don't you dare growl at me!" she barked at him.

Sesshoumaru was trying to control his temper but her defiance made that difficult. It angered him and intrigued him. His eyes grew pink as his youkai flared. She should have been warned, but she simply stepped back and took a defensive stance against him. "If you came to fight then let's begin. I don't want to be awake all night." she said dryly.

The demon before her blinked in silence for a moment. "Foolish woman!" he ground out, then he leapt across the distance pinning her to the large pole that held her tent up. She 'eeped' at the contact. Her hands flew up between them, and she struggled to push him away. He merely captured her hands in his own, transfering them both to be gripped in one hand above her head.

He glared down at her. Surely she would submit now, realize her folly. Surprisingly, her scent spiked, holding little fear. Her eyes were wide and bright as she stared up at him, she shifted her weight, trying to break free but he was incredibly strong. She noticed that he was not hurting her.

Tilting her head back again, she locked eyes with him, "Sesshou..". Her words were cut off as he crashed his lips to hers. The world spun off balance in that moment. His lips fusing over hers, his tongue sliding across the full bottom lip, before plunging inside.

She gave a small cry against his marauding mouth, her own resistance going up in flames. Sesshoumaru felt her lips soften beneath his and he released her wrists. He closed his eyes as he felt her small hands fall to his shoulders and then plunge into the silken length of his hair. Drawing him closer to her. She held him with her warrior's grip, her body pressing up to meet his.

He wanted to fling his armor away, to feel her softness molded to him, rather than the cold steel he was garbed in. His hands strayed to her waist, pulling her lower body against his. One hand moving to cup her bottom, pulling her up against the blatant hardness of his body.

She whimpered against his lips, the growl began again. Softer this time, soothing. Almost a purr, a rumbling vibration that echoed through her body. Her little hand moved to cup his cheek, caressed those magenta stripes that adorned him. A gentle caress, a butterfly whisper of the woman in his arms.

Slowly, he broke the kiss, her breaths came in great pants. Her eyes glazed with the passion he had ignited in her. He grunted smugly. He liked seeing her this way. Her lips were rosy and moist, swollen from his kisses. He captured them again, hungrily. His fangs tugging lightly on her lower lip as he sucked it into his mouth. A light nip made her moan and then her scent surrounded him.

Light and sweet, the spice of a woman highly aroused. The scent of a woman in need. It filled his nostrils, awakened that more animal side of him. He found himself imagining tossing her to the fur covered bed and taking her. It was that thought that pulled him from the brink of sensual madness. He pulled from her again.

He stepped away from her, his hands retreating from her body as though he had been burned. She stared at him, leaning weakly against the pole for support to her shaking legs. He looked down at her, his mask in place once more. "You will not defy me." he told her, "I am your lord and the law to you human." Then he turned and left her tent. He didn't look back.

Ayeka sank to her knees on the rugs littering her floor. Her heart still pounding, lips still tingling. His taste still flooding her mouth. What was happening to her? She had all but thrown herself at him. He detested human weakness. She knew that. Why then did she seem to show it him so often? Her chest ached from some unidentifiable pain. She blamed him. She only suffered it when he had come to her.

She braced herself on aching palms and sucked in a deep breath. Her eyes flooded with that hated wetness and her mind clouded with confusion. Alone and suddenly much colder than before she let herself go. Her tears pouring over her lashes and down her cheeks. Sobbing softly, she swore that he would not touch her, ever again.

Just outside the tent, Sesshoumaru caught the soft sounds of weeping and gritted his teeth against it. This was his fault entirely. He had not right to barge into her tent and force his kiss on her. She was a human and his servant and he'd do well to remember that. Still, her scent clung to him, her sweetness lingered on his lips. He growled as he strode through the snow to his own tent. He needed to kill something. Yes, that would make him feel infinitely better.