Living in the Moment

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Sesshoumaru wasn't sure what she meant at all. But she was opening herself to this vulnerability and he could tell how uncomfortable she was. He considered just leaving her be but his clawed hand was already reaching out to her, her chin in his hand. It was the only place he had truly touched her before, and he recognized how her chin fit in his hand. The closer he was to her, the more he recognized this docile human. Instinctively, he stepped closer and his hand slid down from her chin to over her neck and across her shoulder blade.

Just this small recognizable touch and his deeper instincts were soothed. Now all he wanted to do was have this new scent stored in his memory. Bending down again, his nose brushed against her ear and breathed in deeply. He recognized the subtle undertone as the same that had caught his attention that first night. It was strangely deja vu but it made it all the more familiar. This position, this intimacy. The only difference now was she didn't seem completely scandalized.

Reassuring himself more than anything, he spoke simply. "You are still Brigantia." It was easy now. So simple.

[Birdie]

She closed her eyes when his fingers made contact with her skin. This had not changed at all. While she could not sense his aura, the feel of his warmth had not changed. She relaxed allowing him this small exploration. There was no one to see her. This blindness had suddenly become something calming. She smiled, leaning into his hand momentarily. They moved along her neck then and down her collar. She felt the breath in her ear and her own hitched for a moment. Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes fluttered open. He was so very close. Shyly she lifted her hands and placed them against his chest. Her fingers clung to the fabric there and she closed her eyes. She lost herself in him. Nothing mattered anymore.

She giggled a little at his remark. "Of course I am. Who else could I possibly be?" She let her forehead rest against his shoulder. She was so very thankful that this night had happened. What had originally been an extremely stressful time had become something more relaxing and safe.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Sesshoumaru was all too willing to keep their proximity. So when she didn't push away he kept her close, breathing in the heavier scent of this human Brigantia. He scoffed at her question, the puff of air tickling the top of her ear. She had moved even closer, and with one arm still on her shoulder they were in a light embrace. It felt...nice.

"I am reassured." That's all there was to it. He knew that this had to be Brigantia. There was no one else it could be. But his instincts were left uncertain and wary. But now he could relax again. His instincts had reasserted this Brigantia into the pack.

[Birdie]

Brigantia was lost in some fantasy land. Nothing mattered and the outside world was forgot. She could smell him, feel him enshrouding her. She wondered how much more intoxicating this would be if she were able to feel the world along side this. Then again, maybe it was better so that there was no distractions. She sighed. "I am glad, my lord," she replied. Those words worked on her. Brigantia woke up and she realized the intimacy she shared with her master was inappropriate. Slowly she pushed herself away, blushing. Her arms outstretched and her hands were still on his chest. She moved to look him in the face, to say something about how this was wrong, but she could not quite speak. She had to avert her eyes again, flushing brightly. "The moon is lovely." she finally settled on, turning her eyes toward the full orb.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

When Brigantia pushed away he was slightly confused. Had he done something wrong? Staring at her still trapped in a haze of warmth and comfort it was hard to free himself with her body heat gone and only her hands remaining on his chest. He knew that there should be something wrong with how he interacted with her. Sesshoumaru knew that he should have not touched her at all.

He blinked, glad of the distraction the brought up so he didn't have to think too deeply into how intimate he had become with her. She avoided eye contact just as much as he did and Sesshoumaru gladly looked up at the moon to stop himself from staring into those green eyes again. "Hnn..." He didn't know what else to say to that. He didn't know what else to say at all.

Although his actions had spoken enough...he felt slightly vulnerable with how much affection he had portrayed. To a human version of Brigantia, no less.

[Birdie]

She brought her face downwards, staring at her slim fingers resting against his chest. Her hands had never seemed so small before this. Gently she began to smooth the fabric there, straightening his clothes. She was desperate for something to do! Now she was beginning to feel cold as she was no long enveloped by him. She shivered only a little and her hands moved upward, brushing along his shoulders to smooth out any wrinkles. As her hands moved upward so did her eyes, and what she found was a chin soon followed by a set of lips.

Brigantia wondered what they would taste like, what they would feel like against her own. She had never been kissed before and she stilled a moment as her imagination ran wild. One of his hands against her back, another tangled in her hair... It did not take long to catch herself and she blushed a deep crimson. Not knowing how else to hide her extreme embarrassment she stepped forward into him, her face hidden now against his chest. This was not the best thing she could have done, but her mind was all mud and no sense.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Sesshoumaru was not too certain on her thought process to explain her actions. He was sure it was innocent enough. But the soft strokes of her hands distracted him immensely, and he couldn't help but concentrate only on her touch. Moving over his chest to his shoulders, he couldn't resist looking at her again. She had the oddest expression on her face before she leaned back into him. Was her human body affecting her in some way?

He sensed her distress, but was unsure what it meant. All he had to go by was the intense blush that came across her face right before. And the way she was staring at him...slightly unnerved his hands moved to lightly grasp her shoulders. "Brigantia?"

[Birdie]

His hands against her shoulders and his voice did not help quell her human mind. She shivered slightly again and gripped the fabric in front of her. "Yes my lord?" she mumbled into his chest. She did not want to come out of hiding yet. She did not want to see his face and allow those thoughts to return. It had to be her human mind playing silly tricks on her. Oh how she wished the night would end so she could go back to before such impure thoughts touched her helpless soul. Why would she even think such things about her master!

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Sesshoumaru could feel her shiver, her scent shifted and spiked and he blinked not daring to make assumptions on what his instincts were telling him. There must be something else going on, from her being human. Rin had been the only human he had any interactions with and the body language of the species were unknown to him. But she couldn't keep hiding things from him.

And how could she respond to him without looking at him. Huffing, he pushed lightly to give them distance before grasping her chin and forcing her to look up at him. The blush was still there, and his brows furrowed in thought. "Is there a problem?" he asked, trying to intimidate her by moving his face in closer, eyes narrowing dangerously. Dare she still try and hide the sudden stress the human body forced on her?

[Birdie]

The push felt sudden, as she was trying so desperately to hide. She did not dare to look up. Shaking like a leaf, she tried to pretend this wasn't happening. Alas, he would not have it. His strong hand gripped her chin and forced her to look up. Wide eyed she stared up into his face. When had he gotten so close again? Her lower lip trembled as her fingers slowly lifted upward to gently grip the arm which held her fast. She did not attempted to push the hand away. Instead she held it as if she were afraid he might disappear and this whole thing was a dream.

Brigantia attempted to shake her head in response but could not move it very well. She opened her mouth but her voice would not come out. Her blush only deepened as she stared into the golden pools of his eyes. Biting her lip, she attempted to bring herself back to reality. It did not such thing, but finally she was able to respond.

"It is nothing, my lord," she managed in a low whisper. "I am... It is..." How could she explain to him the emotional avalanche which had engulfed her body in fire? "I am just thinking too much..." Yes, her thoughts were her undoing. Her pink tongue darted out to lick her full lips. Her expression was almost hungry but she did not understand it. Letting go of his arm, she brought her hands up to cover her face. "I am sorry. I do not know what has come over me. I think I may be ill." That had to be it, her human body was giving her a fever.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

The look Brigantia was giving him brought forth an instinctual urge to possess and conquer. It was familiar and yet completely unknown and the force was much too strong to keep such contact. He released her slowly, afraid to hurt her as he stared; her delicate tongue moving across soft pink lips--

"Ill..." He repeated, suddenly too conscious of every soft curve in her body and how close he had been keeping her. "Of course." Forcing his mind to accept it, he side stepped her into her room. "Then you should sleep. Or do you need something else?" Rin asked for soup when she was sick. But this wasn't a normal sickness, he wasn't so naive to believe that. But he was ignorant enough to accept it as a human problem.

[Birdie]

His release brought coolness to her flesh. She almost reached out to him but corrected her actions, bringing her hands to run through her hair. The lack of physical contact was calming, but even his voice had the ability to make her stomach feel all wobbly. She nodded mutely. Yes, sleep would make everything better. And when she woke up she would no longer be a human and everything would go back to normal.

She began to move toward her bed, then paused. If she fell asleep something might happen, someone might smell the human and want to eat her. Did she need anything else? She turned large green eyes upon him. "Will you watch over me? I do not want to be devoured." It was her biggest fear at the moment. "I am sorry, I know I presume too much but I..." She was afraid, but she did not want to admit it and look that much weaker in his eyes. She must already look the right fool. Continuing to twirl her hair around her hands, she waited for his answer.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Devoured. The word took on a different meaning as he considered doing so himself. He would be the one to devour her, and she would enjoy every minute of it. Forcing himself to keep his distance in case he reached for her, Sesshoumaru kept himself close to the door. "I will stay." He spoke simply, unable to stop himself from watching her every move. The sway of hips, hair twirled between nimble fingers.

Eyes narrowing in intensity, he kept his hands hidden beneath his sleeves and crossed across his chest. Just so that he didn't grab at her without thinking. It would be just too easy to push her down onto her futon and join her beneath the sheets. Dangerous thoughts brought forth primal instincts and he tensed in discomfort to go against his urges.

[Birdie]

A relieved smile spread across her flushed face. She bowed deeply to him, "Thank you very much, my lord. I appreciate it." But she could not sleep in her normal clothes she was wearing. She glanced at him and then back down at herself. Another darker blush came to her face, "Anou... please avert your eyes." She turned her back to him so she did not have to know whether he had obeyed her request or not.

Brigantia undid the overlaying kimono till she was left with only the bottom most piece. Quickly she dove into her bed and snuggled beneath the covers. Normally she would have taken the time to hang the dress back up, but she could not bear to be out in the open like that for too long. Alas, she was more afraid of being eaten by other demons than she was of being in her undergarments in front of the man who saved her life.

She pulled the covers up to her chin and watched Sesshomaru's silhouette at the door frame. It was a gorgeous picture, the moon, trees and him. "Sesshomaru-sama?" she inquired softly. What was it she wanted to say to him? Why did she call out his name like that? "Aaah.... never mind. I am sorry."

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Forcing himself to look away, he tried to stop his torturous thoughts. Sesshoumaru's feelings towards Brigantia had never been so strong and so persistant. They were always a fleeting moment and a small consideration that he never put too much thought into. But now he couldn't stop thinking about. It had always been a passing fancy. But this...

She forced him out of his thoughts by saying his name, and as bright gold eyes found her in the darkness he could remember the passing fancy. An urge to protect as a member of his pack. Instead of looking alluring, she once again sparked a fondness way more dangerous than a sexual attraction. Curled up in covers like a child, Sesshoumaru could relax. The urge to tear the sheets from her body was slowly replaced with the urge to lightly sweep the stray hairs from her face.

Sleep had been the right choice. Eyes still glowing in the darkness, Sesshoumaru watched her for a few seconds longer before averting his gaze, confidant she was same from any sort of devouring. But worried over the realization that these feelings, though small, were very real.

And very powerful when provoked.