Undone

Undone

Chapter 3 – Muse

The alarm clock blared, jarring the tranquil silence into cacophonous chaos. Kagome Higurashi woke with a start for a second time, this time alone, in her own bed. Hitting the alarm until it silenced, she collapsed backwards onto her pillows, the echo ringing in her ears.


Inuyasha… her memories seemed hazy, but there was the distinct impression of hurt, anger, and regret. As well as a thousand strangely clear pictures of silver curtains, topaz eyes, and sharp, wicked teeth. She held one hand to her head, and then shook it, trying to clear the jumble of images.

She let out an angry sigh. Trust her to have her alarm go off on a Saturday of all days.

How was it that his name came unbidden to her mind? It irked her to have the first thought of the day be of him.

His face, his mouth, his skin…no! She berated herself. She was in control of herself. There was no way an insufferable ass like him could occupy her thoughts. She already had one man too many…how quickly everything had happened. One moment, it had just been her, with a reserved, quiet boyfriend who lived miles away and never even visited her…and now she still had him, as well as a couple of brothers who seemed determined to drive her in every possible direction insanity might take.

But why did the most disastrous direction seem the most appealing? A rippling, lean body, amber eyes, pupils dilated, breathing in gasps…

She dug her fingernails hard into her arm, almost drawing blood, but unusually enough, the sudden pain did not help her to focus, but only seemed to heighten the heated flush that was spreading through her. She remembered his teeth on her collarbone, and her fingers rose unbidden to finger the small incision his sharp canines had produced.

Shaking her head and clenching her fists, she determinedly dismissed the memory and strode toward her bathroom. All she needed was a good shower, she told herself.

Picking up her phone on the way, she called Sango and left a message, asking her to come over. If anything, Sango’s dating experience would help her give Kagome some advice on getting that…man…out of her head. Sango was possibly the only one who wouldn’t laugh, too.

Stripping off her satin nightgown, Kagome looked at herself in the mirror, appraising, as the water began to run. She had always been pretty, never gorgeous, but men had approached her before. Her hair was long and lustrous, she hadn’t cut it in a while, and it cascaded down her back like rivulets of dark water. Her stomach was flat, but her hips sloped out, giving her curves. She adhered to a strict diet and exercise regimen, and her slender form was the result.

She ran a hand lightly down her stomach and frowned. What made his touch any different? She had been touched, kissed, ravaged by men before. It had never been like last night…and they had barely done anything…

Resigning herself to a frustrating week, she stripped off her panties, stepped under the cool jet of water, and tried to forget.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sesshoumaru adjusted his tie in the expansive closet mirror, frowning at a minute piece of dust that had alighted on it before flicking the offending thing away. His house outside the city was much better stocked with perfect attire, but right now, the best this apartment could offer would have to make due.

Though lacking much real experience in love, he was confident in his experience with wooing women. If his good looks and money didn’t attract them, his flawless manners and knowledge of romantic cliché did the trick. He picked up a fresh bouquet of classic red roses, convinced that his surprise visit would be nothing but a success.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The doorbell rang.

“Come in!” Kagome called, happy Sango had come so quickly. “I’ll be right out!”

She finished drying her hair and wrapped a towel around herself, intending to get some clothing from her room. Glancing out into the living room through her door, wondering why Sango was so quiet, she froze with the clothes in her hands. A man with long silver hair stood, his back to her, studying one of her paintings on the opposite wall.

A flush spread through her, lighting her naked skin on fire under the towel, and a gasp escaped her parted lips.

“Inu-Inuyasha?” she breathed, almost inaudibly. Backing up to escape to the bathroom, she knocked her bureau lamp to the floor, unable to catch it before it fell with a resounding clatter.

The man, startled, turned. It was not Inuyasha, but his brother, who seemed surprised to see Kagome in such an obvious state of undress. Muttering an apology, she fled to the bathroom. Slamming the door behind her and flinging the clothes onto the hamper, she sank to the floor against the door, letting it hold her weight. Her heart was beating so fast she feared it would escape her chest and madly ricochet about the room, as it did now within her.

It hadn’t been him. That much was a good thing, she told herself. There was only one problem.
She had wanted it to be him.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sesshoumaru allowed his lips to curl into a small, self-satisfied smile. He knew the look on her face, the redness of her skin only too well. Already, she desired him. This conquest would be easier than he had even dreamed possible. But still, she was perfect, so charmingly demure in the face of her obvious lust. It was better this way. A woman with self-control was one he wanted by his side. A weak-minded tramp surely wouldn’t do. But he knew, everyone had their breaking point. Her resolve would not hold out forever.

He waited patiently, noting with pleasure the clean, minimalistic approach she took to decorating her abode. The few paintings, music, books, or any other kinds of entertainment he could see were classic, betraying little about her. Picasso. Beethoven. Charles Dickens. Everything was immaculate.

A small click alerted him as she exited the bathroom, fully dressed in casual jeans and a black tank top. Her flush had faded, but a rosy hue still remained around her cheekbones, and her eyes wouldn’t meet his. How adorable. The girl was mortified. He almost laughed. Instead, he proffered the roses, allowing his face to relax into a charming smile.

“I wanted to give you these. I really enjoyed seeing you last night, Kagome.” He allowed his voice to slide over the syllables of her name slower than the rest of the sentence, lingering on its respective syllables with an almost indecent relish.

“S-Sesshoumaru…” She bowed slightly, accepting the roses and walking into her kitchenette for a vase and water. “I am sorry you took me unprepared. I was waiting for someone else, or I would have been more collected.”

“No, I am sorry. I should have called. I…couldn’t wait to see you again.” He replied, allowing his voice to get softer at the last words. It was a useful line. Her blush deepened a bit.

“I…am expecting someone. Perhaps you wanted to arrange a time for us to meet again?” She asked, filling a crystalline vase from the sink.

“Yes. I have been rude. Forgive me.” He waved away her protests. “Is Thursday night a good time for you? I would like to meet earlier, but I have business to attend to.”

“That would be fine.” She told him, her voice a strange monotone. He frowned at her sudden lack of emotion.

“Then…I will see you then.” He returned her bow, and took his leave. It was obvious her father had not talked to her yet. It would seem the old man was leaving things up to him. He grinned. Thursday would be a night to remember.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN: Review if you read, please  Hope you are enjoying it!