Taken by the Tide by mythicamagic

Chapter 1

AN: Moree Monster Sess here we go! This time we have Kelpie Sess, enjoy! Italics are flashbacks just FYI. For Sesskag Week Day 5 - Blue and for chocochip03/cookieasylum.

Thank you to neb and harlecorn for helping me with figuring out plot stuff for this.

Warning: Smut and underwater breathplay

----

The dreams grew increasingly more frequent lately. When most people reached their late twenties, they were firmly convinced fairytales were just that; fairy tales. Children's stories.

Her late Great Aunt had certainly thought so.

Kagome's dreams took shape as memories. Things she hadn't forgotten but pushed down until the date of her marriage loomed imposingly close. She supposed the little reminders in her sleep were a countdown. Her brain's way of warning her; she was close to plunging into unknown waters.

Laying her head down that night in her hotel room, Kagome stifled a sigh, knowing exactly what she'd see the second she closed her eyes.

-------

Eight-year-old Kagome Higurashi wrinkled her nose at the thought of travelling in a plane for so long, and visibly wilted when she was told she'd be away for two weeks.

Moving house sucked.

Her heavily pregnant mother explained that she and her father would arrange everything at the new house in Tokyo to make it perfect. They'd be moving in with Grandpa at his shrine. Therefore, Kagome found herself whisked out of the way while her family moved across the country. She didn't see why she had to take a 12 hour plane trip under the guise of a 'holiday' just because they were moving. She could've helped!

Great Aunt Mio greeted her with a gentle smile at the airport, driving her down some winding roads toward her humble home. Kagome bowed her head slightly, hiding her face in the depths of her scarf. Now, she did love her Great Aunt, the only problem was she did not love her house.

Mostly the location of it.

In Scotland. Cold, damp, very chilly Scotland.

Kagome bundled herself tighter into her blue coat while Mio chatted. She glanced around sparse scenery, picking up the change in her Great Aunt's accent, influenced by her many years abroad.

She noticed a quiet beach with white shores lay directly behind the isolated house once they pulled up into the driveway, but what was the point of a beach if it wasn't sunny and warm?

There were no other people around. Which meant no children to play with. Kagome breathed out into her scarf, feeling it warm her chin. She'd have to deal with it.

Taking the older woman's offered hand in her mitten one, she glumly followed her into the sleepy house. Various smells of old books, incense and heated dinners wafted to her nose. Kagome didn't mind that so much. Yet even inside the house, she kept her scarf and mittens on, sitting near the lit fire and repressing a shiver. It was so chilly, even inside the house!

When it was time for bed, Great Aunt Mio offered to read her a certain story.

"What are Kelpies?" Kagome asked curiously when the woman mentioned the name.

"They're beautiful water horses. But you can only see them if you leave your heart open while looking out at the ocean," Mio winked.

"How do you do that?" she mumbled sceptically, settling down deeper into the bedding, clutching a knitted blanket close. Her tiny toes curled, rendered toasty from the hot water bottle Aunt Mio had slid at the foot of the bed.

"Hm," thinking for a moment, Mio gazed out of a dark window. "Maybe if you let your thoughts drift away a little, and gaze at the waves with a clear mind, you might see something good. Be careful though; don't ever climb onto their back. Otherwise, they'll pull you under the cold waters and eat you!"

-----

Sliding the straps of her shopping bag into the crook of her arm, Kagome balanced her phone and coffee in both hands, hurrying up the sandy outside steps of the rundown hotel she'd taken a room in. The building sat facing the ocean, situated within walking distance to the beach. Considering this, the room price had been a steal.

"Hey, Kagome!" Taro greeted, fiddling with a fishing pole while sitting on a step.

Finishing her conversation on the phone, Kagome lowered it from her ear. "How's it going, squirt? Any luck?"

"Nah, nothing. I caught zilch!" he pouted. "It's like the ocean hates me or something."

"Heh, keep at it, practice makes perfect and all that," she wrestled out her hotel key, climbing the steps and passing him by.

"Was that your Mom on the phone?" the dark-haired child blinked up at her.

Kagome hesitated. "Y-yeah," she muttered, pausing. "Why?"

"My Dad said that even though you're a good guest and everything, he kind of wonders why you're here. I thought maybe you were a rich orphan who travelled around Japan."

She arched a brow, "a rich orphan, huh?"

Taro lifted a shoulder, fiddling with his fishing line. With a sigh, Kagome scrambled for an excuse. "You caught me, I'm travelling."

"My Dad said you're a bit old for travelling-"

"I'm 28?!"

"-that it's something only students do."

"Your Dad says a lot," Kagome gritted out, whirling on her heel and storming up the stairs. She thought it had been a perfectly valid excuse.

"Oh! We're having stew tonight! You're welcome to join us!" he called after her.

"No thanks!"

Quickly entering the building and hurrying to her room, Kagome shut the door behind her. Leaning against it heavily, she sighed.

She'd totally nearly slipped up then.

"Actually, Taro- I'm here to meet with my childhood sweetheart. We're getting married in a few days because I agreed to owing him a favour as a dumb kid and it's a binding agreement type of thing- only he refuses to tell me what our wedding entails or how we'd make it work since he's a supernatural ocean monster. So! I'm really confused and kinda annoyed with him. Yeah, that about sums it up," Kagome nodded.

Time to de-stress.

She ran herself a nice warm bath, preparing everything for some serious self-care 'me' time. She'd been a ball of nerves ever since leaving home with a vague excuse about meeting a friend near Shirahama.

Opening a bottle of wine, she took a swig from the bottle before closing it. "Whew," she whistled, vibrating with tension. She wondered if these were pre-wedding jitters.

Staring outside towards the vast ocean, her brows knitted.

Shaking herself, Kagome decided she desperately needed to relax. Sesshoumaru was vague, he always had been. She half wondered if he refused to clarify anything because he enjoyed her squirming.

Passing by the bathroom on her way to pick up a fresh set of clothes from her bedroom- she halted- quickly backtracking.

The lights were dimmed, candles flickering to create a warm glow like little spotlights within the cozy bathroom. Steam fogged up mirror surfaces, obscuring the sight of the bathtub until Kagome leaned around the corner, groaning at the sight.

"No."

Sesshoumaru looked up from where he lounged within comforting hot water, white puffy bubbles barely concealing his lower half, magenta stripes disappearing into cloud-like cover. One leg bent at the knee, his other thigh sprawled out, foot hanging off the edge of the tub. Both arms rested upon the sides, trickles of moisture rolling down his chest and defined abdomen, silver hair with a couple of water reeds caught in the stands plastered to alabaster flesh. His skin was very faintly dappled, like sunlight playing upon the bottom of a seafloor, smooth as stone.

"Hm?"

"I said; no," Kagome bristled, leaning against the threshold with her hip. "Not ready yet. I've still got time. I'm also not in the mood for your shenanigans- that is my bathwater. Those are my scented candles you're enjoying! Those were meant for me!"

The inhuman creature languidly twisted open the lid of her sugar body scrub. He gave the white tub a delicate sniff. "You certainly enjoy your moisturiser," he drawled, setting it aside. Intent golden eyes landed on her, smiling in that infuriating way she'd come to both like and find vexing during the years she'd known him.

"There is no need to be so possessive of your luxurious bath time. By all means, you are welcome to join me."

Kagome eased closer. "That's mighty generous of you-"

"Thank you."

"But this was a solo intended 'me time' so if you could just-" she reached for the bath plug chain.

A wet, pale hand captured hers mid-air.

Sesshoumaru's devastatingly, unnaturally handsome features loomed close. Water droplets clung to his lashes, and when he blinked, they landed upon striped cheeks.

With a single tug, he yanked Kagome down- forcing her to straddle his lap.

Water sloshed loudly, swaying in the tub.

Squeaking, Kagome steadied herself with a freehand on his cool, sturdy shoulder. His skin gleamed for a moment like the surface of a pool touched by sunlight. It made it impossible to forget that this was not his true form.

Kagome felt his cock stir under the water without stimulation, resting against her thigh.

She bit her lip, torn between smiling and growling. "It's a very snug squeeze with both of us in here."

"I believe we can make it work."

Blushing, Kagome sighed when pale lips brushed the pulse of her neck, feather-light. You said that the first time we had sex, when I wondered if our bodies were even compatible.

And it was happening again, her greedy arms sliding around broad shoulders.

Every time he paid a visit, something like this would occur. Sesshoumaru didn't have to do much. He'd appear in a pool, lounging by a stream, river or pond.

Just a few choice words and an implication here and there, maybe a kiss or two and Kagome drowned in him.

She indulged despite the knowledge that he remained tight-lipped about important things. Alarming, life-changing things.

Their lips met- and the shock of it never failed to take her breath away. He felt so strange, like the sensation of kissing a cold breeze that bit at your mouth with frost yet soothed it all at once.

Sesshoumaru's wet hand curled in dark hair, pulling away to look at her with calm golden eyes. Nothing disturbed them, not one ripple. They remained an ever unblemished surface of a sunny lake.

"You have a scant few days until we wed, my bride."

Kagome touched his hand, heart constricting. "Yes."

"Will you run from me and the promise you made to this one?" he murmured, licking the shell of her ear.

She shivered, recovering enough to hum flippantly, "no. I know it's pointless. You can't outrun water when it's everywhere and in everything."

Sesshoumaru leaned in to gently kiss her lowered eyelids. "I had hoped you would come willingly, out of your own desire."

"Sorry for not being enthusiastic about drowning," she smirked.

He flashed pearly white teeth. "Now who said anything about that happening?"

"Only every book about Kelpies."

"Hn, victims maybe. But those books have no knowledge of what happens to our brides," he uttered, claws scraping deceptively soft down the back of her neck.

Kagome trembled, embarrassed by her body flaring alive. "A pity then that I've had to rely on books to try and get some answers for what married life will be like to you- only all I find is death, death and oh-! A side helping of death. One passage helpfully described you dragging a victim below the water, eating them- and then flinging their entrails onto the riverbank."

Smooth palms settled on the curve of her ass, rocking her against him slowly, unhurriedly. Ever a deep, lulling lagoon of ease and poise. Her personal siren song. "A little trust goes a long way."

Arching her back, Kagome peeled off her shirt, tossing it away and working to unclasp her bra. "If I trusted you implicitly you'd find me predictable."

She knew not to completely trust the caprice of a predator. Danger always lurked beneath his unruffled gaze. That was just how it was when courting a creature from the deep. Nonetheless, she cupped his cheek. "But still- some answers are needed, Sesshoumaru. I know this will be binding, some type of magic will probably be involved," she muttered, raising her eyes to his. "I won't run from my promise or any consequences it might have to wed you, but you're leaving me in the dark and I don't like it. After 20 years of knowing each other, aren't I owed an explanation about my own wedding?"

He hummed, focusing on her face while assisting her with the stubborn bra. "It is part of the wedding ritual. You must trust me implicitly without my having told you the process. You have...affection for me," he said softly. "Let that be your guide. All will be well after the wedding."

"So the wedding is like a test?" Kagome arched a brow, liking that even less.

"You will be gifted with something my kind consider sacred above all things if you pass."

Long fingers deftly unhooked the bra clasp with practised ease. Kagome peeled the blue lace away, tossing it aside "...and if I fail?"

Golden eyes fixed on her nipples, lightly rubbing one and watching it harden, skin pebbling with goosebumps. "You will not."

She shivered, clutching onto his hand to halt his ministrations. "How can you be so sure?"

Sesshoumaru squeezed her fingers in a painfully human reassurance he'd learned from being in her company.

"Because I trust you, my foolish Bride."

Blue eyes grew slightly misty, and she blinked the silly tears away. Kagome released him, arching into his continued touch. A clawed thumb lightly scraped and toyed with her nipple.

He smirked, inhaling her breathy sigh. "I never tire of your human reactions."

Kagome stifled a moan, pressing sloppy, open-mouthed kisses down his throat. The lack of gills revealed how little he truly used this inhuman form; it was just for her benefit.

She intended to make use of it.

Sesshoumaru easily plucked her skirt off without Kagome having moved an inch, and she squeaked, watching the severed material fall from his fingers carelessly onto the rug.

"H-hey!"

He arched a brow, pinching her breast. "You have no need for it beyond a few more uses at most."

Kagome set her jaw moodily. He was right of course, but still. She gestured to the scented candles. "I like to make the most of what I have."

When he ignored her in favour of stroking her clit, a growl built in her throat. Gripping exquisite silver tresses, she leaned up and kissed him roughly, feeling her panties be dealt with in a similar manner and growling outright.

Sesshoumaru grinned so wide she felt the outline of his teeth against her lips. Kagome nipped him for that- but his teeth were sharper. With a particularly bruising kiss, she tasted copper beading on her lip- which was swiftly claimed by her fiance. Sucking and lapping the blood away, he then delved deep into her mouth with the use of a sinous tongue.

They kissed hard and breathlessly, to the point that when they broke away, both were panting. Kagome fought the urge to wipe her throbbing mouth, having been attacked with bites. Lagoon blue eyes darkened with hunger.

Sesshoumaru chuckled softly, capturing her chin and pressing teeth to the hollow of her throat. "Have you worked up an appetite, my Bride?"

"Maybe a little," gazing at the ceiling, she let her eyes slide shut. Cool lips ghosted her chest- teeth sinking into her breast.

"Ngh!" she gasped, shuddering in his hold. The flat of his tongue soothed the throbbing mark, smiling against flushed skin. Trying to wrestle back control, Kagome rocked lean hips forward, reaching down between them.

Stroking his cock beneath the surface, she minded dying bubbles aside to reveal a patch of white hair. Kagome slid off Sesshoumaru's lap- much to his protest- leaning after her breast with bloodied teeth.

Kagome pushed him back with a huff, ducking her head down and grabbing exotically striped hips to raise them slightly, sucking the head of his cock into her mouth.

Sesshoumaru went completely still- soon shuddering with an open, lascivious moan that exposed sharp canines. Bobbing her head to take more, Kagome hollowed her cheeks, sucking and running her tongue over the underside of his cock.

"Hah- you never fail to amuse me," claws curled in dark hair.

Kagome broke away to nip his thigh. "Amuse?"

"Satisfy," he amended.

"Better," smiling, she went right back to pleasuring him with her mouth, sucking with loud, heinous noises and squeaking when Sesshoumaru bucked hard- holding her down to take his cock to the back of her mouth. Luckily she anticipated this, a similar thing happened every time. The second she gagged, he stopped, drawing back to rut softly.

Kagome breathed through her nose, pumping his cock with a free hand. The scent of peppermint candles became cloying.

"Why do you attend me if- hah- you hate me. I wonder," he panted, perhaps intending to tease.

She didn't know. Hate wasn't accurate, not at all. If circumstances were different, Kagome felt she could've loved him openly by now.

Stimulating him further, Kagome wrapped her tongue around him and accepted the wild thrusts, bobbing her head to meet his movements that trashed the water, squeezing blue eyes shut. Pale hair brushed her nose.

She jolted as he released without warning. Sesshoumaru let out a thin, hissing noise, teeth gnashing together. Kagome pulled away, swallowing and panting raggedly.

Distractedly wiping at her chin, she was caught off guard. A tongue delved inside her mouth. Sesshoumaru had no scruples about tasting himself, scooping her back onto his lap. In almost no time, his hard cock that she'd worked so diligently to soften- hardened once more against her thigh.

The Kelpie wrapped her up in a tight embrace, crashing their chests together.

"You were-" he said in between kisses, "very good at that. I thought I detected a few new things about it compared with the last time. Have you been with anyone else?"

Kagome flushed red, cupping striped cheeks. Brushing her tongue against his, she sighed against his punishing mouth. "No."

"Why the sigh?"

Because she'd tried. She tried to live a normal human life but all attempts had been unsuccessful. She smiled wanly, picking water reeds out of glittering silver hair. "You're the only one I want to touch, and the person who I want touching me."

Citrine eyes cracked open slightly wider. Slit pupils dilated, and Sesshoumaru tipped his head to one side. "Good. This one has not touched another either. You remain my first and only."

Blushing cherry red, Kagome gnawed on her bottom lip.

"Embarrassed? I thought it was a good first time."

"We were terrible at it, don't lie," she giggled quietly.

Deadly fingers stroked her ribs, before Sesshoumaru's hands splayed wide at her spine, bending her backwards in the tub to lean over her. "Trust me," he uttered against her lips, before claiming them.

Kagome gripped him tight, repressing a yelp. Water closed over their heads.

Kelpies were strange creatures, she'd found. Dragons made sense- they breathed fire and could fly. Leprechauns had a pot of gold. Vampires drank blood.

But Kelpies? They were murderous water horses who lured people into lochs, rivers and seas to drown them, sure. However, the bulk of their power remained elusive. Secret.

Sesshoumaru continually took her by surprise with his abilities so she'd long stopped counting them. Provided some body of water was available, he could appear to her anywhere. No matter the country.

She'd never seen him separated from water. In his true form, he'd leapt through the shallows of the tide, but never set a physical foot on dry land.

In times like these- with her head submerged in his domain beneath the surface- it was like he bent the laws of reality. Instead of a cramped pool of bathwater, Kagome found herself arched backwards within a vast, bottomless pocket of warm water. She could've swum if she wanted. Dived down into the darkness.

Sesshoumaru kept a tight grip on her, mouth locked over hers. When he breathed out- air filled Kagome's lungs. Bizarrely, and in keeping with his fever-dream powers, Sesshoumaru remained able to kneel within her tub. She could feel open air fanning on her damp knees by his hips.

Possessive hands hooked her legs around his waist, lips curving against her mouth. He sank his hips down. A cock nestled and slid inside her.

Blue eyes squeezed shut.

Holding on around broad shoulders with a death grip, dark hair danced around them while he began moving, bucking smoothly, cock hitting a deep spot that shot stars through Kagome's system.

She squeezed his nape, signalling for more air, which he provided. Bubbles escaped the side of his mouth and Sesshoumaru adjusted her bottom lip with a brush of his clawed thumb, thrusting continually.

It felt a little surreal to know she lay so close to death. He held her fragile life within his hands. One turn of his mood and the Kelpie could give in to his nature and trap her beneath the surface, happily drowning her.

Sesshoumaru's grip stayed firm, golden eyes sliding open. Attentive. Watchful. He seemed to sense what pace she could take, always adjusting their lip-lock if a gasp disrupted her airflow.

Her inner walls clenched tight, urging his cock deeper. Kagome's toes curled while giving muffled cries. Strands of silver kissed her cheek as they melded with black locks within the current.

His thrusts became a little more urgent, ramming inside her so hard he trashed their bodies within the water. Bubbles raced around them and Kagome bit nails into the flesh of his back, leaving tiny crescent moons. Bucking her hips hard to meet him half-way, she gave a muffled cry, mouth opening too wide as she came- feeling water and cum flood inside her mouth and cunt respectively as he released soon after.

Sesshoumaru swayed upright, dragging her up. Breaking the surface of the water, Kagome sputtered and coughed, clutching him tight. Thankfully it had just been a mouthful.

Trembling violently, she panted. Her body twitched from the aftershocks of her orgasm.

Despite how little it made sense from a survival perspective, her thundering heart and quivering inner walls had only amped up the thrill, rendering her dangerous orgasm all the sweeter.

Tender lips brushed her brow. "I have you," he uttered, palms rubbing her back with calm reassurance.

Kagome buried her face in his dappled shoulder.

Yes, you do.

Remaining naked and vulnerable in his arms for a while, Kagome drank in his scent. It wasn't unique, smelling more like the ocean than anything else. Kagome felt comforted by it nonetheless. She then kissed him briefly before flashing an impish grin. Grabbing the chain of her bathplug, she yanked it out.

Golden eyes flattened. "That was uncalled for."

"So was holding me underwater," she hummed, giving a little wave. "I'll be seeing you."

"Indeed," Sesshoumaru grabbed her close, the water level sinking lower.

Crushing their mouths together in a heated rush, he gripped her ass and stroked the curve of it, squeezing and rocking her against him anew.

Kagome gasped against his mouth, becoming affected all over again, heat rushing to her core. Sesshoumaru had enough time to shoot his own mischievous grin her way before all bathwater escaped down the drain.

"Meet me on the beach in two days," was all he said, his image and form becoming water in her hands- falling through the gaps in her fingers and splashing into the tub and her thighs.

He was gone.

Kagome panted, cheeks red. Sometimes she wondered if he'd ever been there at all.

Standing and ripping a towel from a waiting rack, she wrapped it around herself, gingerly stepping out of the tub and wincing as evidence of him trailed down shiny thighs.

Well, that was one way of showing proof of his existence.

------

The following few days after reaching her Great Aunt's place were boring and repetitive. After exhausting all exploration in the house, Kagome had wandered outside. She put on her sensible boots, which were warm and snug. Clothed in layers upon layers, she fixed her scarf and stepped outside with a brief goodbye to Mio. She then padded down the slight slope that led to the beach, which was practically her Great Aunt's back garden.

Mio had warned her not to walk far along the beach but after several days of it now, Kagome felt her caution fade. There was nothing to worry about.

She glanced behind her at the footsteps in the sand and made a few patterns, before looking out at the sea. Wondering how to leave her heart open like it said to in the Kelpie book, she tried picturing nice things. Butterflies were nice, so she thought of them. Cakes were good, puppies, archery was especially fun, summer dresses, and...friends.

Thinking about her friends at the old house she'd left behind, Kagome felt a brief wince of sadness. She supposed the nicest thing of all would be to have a friend again.

A splash caught her attention. Kagome blinked and looked further up the coast.

Was it her imagination or were the waves moving unnaturally?

She waited for a long moment but nothing happened. Seagulls cried up above, the world carrying on as normal. Shaking herself, Kagome noticed a stretch of beach further ahead towards the waves, like a tiny island. Something small wriggled upon it.

Brows drawing together, she hurried closer.

Hopping over streams of seawater that stretched around the beach like rivers, Kagome jogged to a fish caught in a plastic beer can holder. It wriggled about on the wet sand, flipping over this way and that, gasping.

Leaning down, Kagome yanked off her mittens to catch the slippery fish. Very carefully, she slipped the plastic off, smiling. Straightening, she held the fish as gently as possible, guiding it back into lapping seawater that licked around her ankles.

"Careful next time, Fishy."

Watching it swim away beneath the surface, Kagome smiled, turning back to the beach- only to gasp.

The tide swept in much too quick. Her tiny island had shrunk- the once crossable river on the sands having widened, claiming the sands between herself and Mio's house. Water rushed high around her waist, and Kagome hurriedly tried wading back.

"Aunt Mio!" she cried, voice breaking with fear.

There was no movement from the house. Great Aunt Mio had likely gotten distracted with her 3 pm yoga stretches, serene music blasting loudly in her room.

Unable to swim, Kagome frantically put all her energy into trying to fight the current that now stole her feet out from under her. Waves rolled in, swaying above her head.

Squealing as she became lost to the twisting sea, Kagome lost her sense of direction. Tossed about helplessly, all she could do was kick her legs and hoped she was heading the right way up. Managing to break the surface again, she cried for help, failing and dipping beneath again while gulping salty seawater.

'Help me! Please, someone!' she thought.

Managing to claw her way up once more, Kagome gasped and sputtered, blinking.

The shape of a horse's head took form from the water further away, before the rest of its body followed. The young horse (which Kagome remembered to be called a foal) drifted through the waves, diving into the white arches and melding into them, before resurfacing.

Kagome didn't have much time to be wonder-struck, sinking beneath once more.

Hair brushed her fingers, something nudging itself into her arms. Kagome latched on tight, gasping as she found herself being yanked upwards, resurfacing.

Her breath hitched, amazed to see the white foal, arms wrapped around its neck. It glided easily through the current, soon trotting to the shallows of the shore, shaking water droplets across wet sands but stopping at the shoreline.

Coughing hard, Kagome crumpled to the ground. She quivered, looking up at the foal.

It tilted its head slightly, eyes unnervingly gold. Kagome remained frozen, catching her breath, short dark hair stuck to her cheeks. She slowly managed to inch closer hesitantly, still overwhelmed. "H-hey there?" she tried. "Thank you for rescuing me."

The foal's figure shuddered- and Kagome gaped in alarm when it folded downwards into the water- only for its image to ripple. It shifted like an optical illusion, a white shirt moving into place as a boy straightened in its place.

He stood, pale hair short like hers. He wore an oversized crumpled shirt that fell over his knees, rolled up sleeves hanging over his wrists. He pushed them back and sniffed primly, wiping some dirt from his bare legs.

"How did you do that?" Kagome breathed.

Golden eyes slid to her, assessing. His features seemed to change slightly, looking between one moment and the next more Japanese than before. His lips parted. "You...speak differently from the humans here," he said carefully in her language.

"Uh- yes," she blinked rapidly.

He hummed, gaze drawing away thoughtfully. "Strange."

"Not as strange as what you just did!" Kagome stood to hurry over. She picked up his clawed hand, marvelling at it. "You were just a horsey!"

He shook off her grip in favour of grasping hers and assessing the bluntness of her nails. "Oh, that. My true form," the words were imparted easily. "Humans do not have such a thing, you only have these fleshy containers, do you not?" he asked, holding her pinky and shaking it for emphasis.

Kagome burst into a giggle, tears collecting in her eyes and rolling down pale cheeks.

The boy stared. "Why are you...leaking?"

"O-oh, I was scared," she tried to wipe them away, shuddering. "Really scared. But you helped me- so now I'm happy. I'm feeling a lot!"

"I see."

Kagome lunged forward and captured him in a hug that had him stiffening, going ramrod straight while she sobbed for a little while. The tide played about their feet, seaweed brushing their ankles. Eventually he pushed at her forehead, wrinkling his nose while freeing himself and stepping back.

"Females are odd," he mumbled, clearing his throat. "If you are truly grateful, you will not mind fulfilling a favour to this one."

"Sure," she nodded easily, holding onto his sleeve. "I don't mind since, without you, I'd probably be a goner. What do you want?"

He frowned softly. "I...do not know yet. My kind are linked with the Fae, and they always require favours in return for a good turn."

"That's okay. I've got more than a week left here, so you can decide before I have to leave," she nodded, squeezing his hand. "I'm Kagome. What's your name?"

Golden eyes searched her face, eerily unblinking, and yet Kagome didn't feel afraid. She felt awe- and a dangerous kind of fascination that would stay with her for many years.

"Sesshoumaru. I think that is what you'd call it in your language."

----

Rising early after a nice sleep and stretching pleasantly sore muscles, Kagome padded into the bathroom to freshen up. Stuffing a toothbrush into her mouth and filling the sink with hot water, she wandered away to place some bread into her toaster. After flitting from the kitchen, she paused mid-brush, picking up something resting by her filled sink.

A new scented candle.

Ocean Breeze, huh? she snorted, placing it down with a fond smile. Thanks, you jerk.

He usually did that type of thing. Little gifts he thought she'd like. They hadn't always been the sweetest of items. It had taken a while to try to explain to his pre-teen self that bottlecaps were not a priceless treasure.

When Sesshoumaru had tried gifting her a priceless pocket-watch still vaguely tinged red from the blood of one of his victims- she'd baulked and not spoken to him for a few weeks.

There was no shying away from the truth though. Kelpies took people to watery graves.

The couple didn't speak about it much but it had become an unwritten rule when they'd grown older that he never show up wearing clothes when meeting with her.

Because when Sesshoumaru wore clothes it meant he'd stolen them off a corpse.

He'd gotten the idea after that, and brought back a pearl necklace he'd been working on for a while.

Kagome opened her suitcase and retrieved it, rolling a few smooth ones between her thumb. They gleamed, even without a source of light. "Better than the other pearl necklaces you've given me during sex," she snarked, fastening it around her neck.

Using the last of her time as a single woman, Kagome decided to take a stroll through the streets despite the gloomy day. She peered into window displays, looking at cute dresses and designer rings.

Touching her necklace, she sighed. Laughter rang out nearby, and blue eyes followed a young couple that strolled by, arm in arm. They'd clearly just been to a cafe together.

I can't do that with Sesshoumaru, she thought sadly. They couldn't do ordinary couple things. Little reminders like that were why, sometimes, Kagome thought it would be easier if she was a sea creature. He couldn't set foot on land, and she could only swim for so long. If they couldn't meet halfway except for brief appearances in water, she wished she could go to him completely or vice versa.

Shaking herself, Kagome went inside the shop; Purchasing a sterling silver necklace with a good chunk of her money.

She wasn't sure why but a sense of possessiveness compelled her to. If they couldn't wear rings, they could at least have this.

By the time she stepped foot outside again, overcast skies had bled into heavy rainclouds. Droplets pattered onto the crown of her head, and Kagome heard the people around her groan or squeal, ducking into buildings as a torrential downpour battered the streets.

Smiling, Kagome hurried away, noting the privacy of a location around the back of a building secluded with some enclosing shrubbery. It was away from the main street, maybe it would be fine. Before she could even think to whisper his name, cold hands found her waist.

The breath rushed from her lungs, back meeting the wall of the building- lips covered by firm ones. Sesshoumaru smiled at her, standing naked in broad daylight within heavy rainfall. Droplets caught in his hair, running down pointed ears and running over his chest.

Kagome clutched him close, returning the kiss. Opening her mouth, she moaned, sucking on his tongue. He purred against her in return.

"Y-you're so-" she kissed him again, "clingy. Can't you keep away?"

"I must take these opportunities when they come, my Bride. You know that."

Kagome smiled, "speaking of-" she wrestled out the silver necklace. "To um...match with mine? Like wedding rings?" she gestured to her pearls.

Golden eyes widened, his wet bangs hanging over them slightly. He warmed, nodding slightly. Lowering his head, he knelt to allow her to slip it on, securing the clasp at the back. Lingering close, Kagome kissed his wet shoulder, tasting seawater.

"Clingy," he lightly accused, rushing in to shove her hips back. He hitched up her skirt, kissing her clothed sex hungrily.

Gasping, Kagome shoved a hand over her mouth, hissing. "S-sesshoumaru!"

"As stated-" her panties were slid to her ankles "-we should make the most of the opportunity," silken tones purred, clamping his mouth over her sex. Kagome cried out into her palm, shuddering.

While a skilful tongue swirled and pried against her inner walls, sucking and lapping at her, she began rocking against his tongue. No sense in wasting time. The rain could stop at any minute.

Sesshoumaru chuckled, hitching her thigh to spread wider, brushing his nose against her clit. Mewling, her hips stuttered, silently begging for more.

With an enigmatic smirk, he calmly but intently rubbed at her clit with a thumb, continuing to pleasure her. He took her mad squirming and rutting against his mouth in stride, allowing Kagome to ride his tongue to orgasm.

She wailed loudly, heavy rainfall masking the sound.

Panting and licking decadently at her escaping juices, Sesshoumaru managed to look up at her with a starving gleam in his eye before the waning rain stole him away. His image faded, lips disappearing from against her thigh.

Kagome found herself leaning after him, heart-clenching. Left alone with only scant raindrops that gradually cleared, she gazed after dark clouds longingly.

Soon, she thought.

--------

"I have decided upon a favour," the boy said to Kagome on her last day in Scotland.

She paused, sitting upon a lone boardwalk and watching him gaze up at her with unblinking eyes. "For saving me? Sure," she nodded. "You'll have to make it quick though, you know Great Aunt Mio wants me back in-"

"Marry me."

Kagome gaped. "Huh? Why do you wanna marry?!"

Sesshoumaru disappeared beneath the wooden structure, swimming softly. "Because I must take a bride one day and the thought of wedding you is pleasing. You are not awful company to be around, for a girl."

"Gee thanks," Kagome tried to follow him, crawling along the planks to glimpse him drifting below in between the gaps.

"Your mane is fairly pretty."

"My 'hair' is pretty, yes," she preened. "But that's not a good reason to marry!"

"Your eyes are like my home."

"W-what?"

"They resemble the ocean."

"Ah," Kagome blushed, "that's nice."

When he said nothing more, dark brows drew together. Kagome climbed off the boardwalk, landing in the waist-deep water and wading beneath the shadows of the boardwalk.

His eyes lured her closer, glowing luminous in the dark space. "I hear you, sometimes. When humans look at the ocean and broadcast their thoughts so loud, I know they are close. It is how my kind find prey."

Kagome was too young to really understand what he meant by that. She took his cool hand and squeezed it. "What do I say?"

"You are frustrated that adults do not listen to you. Even when you scream so loudly within your own head," he uttered, tipping his head slightly, white hair swaying to reveal a pointed ear. "But I would hear you, even with a whisper. It is because of this...that I feel you would be successful in passing my ancestor's test of trust."

She blinked rapidly, a confused flutter in her chest. "...I know I promised you, but I can't marry until I'm an adult. Only adults marry," Kagome nodded sensibly.

"How long will that take?"

"Umm...I don't know? 20 years? Then I'll do it," she agreed.

Sesshoumaru squeezed her hand back, eyes firm, voice binding. "Then 20 years to the day is when we shall wed."

-----

Taro sighed, trudging back from the moonlit beach moodily. Not one catch! He'd even gone to the trouble of sneaking out after hours, hoping the dark waters would improve his luck.

Sighing, he raised his head, blinking at the pale figure drawing closer from the hotel.

White fabric trailed down, the kakeshita hem dragging slightly over the sandy beach. The bride walked with measured steps, clad in a fine shiromuku wedding ensemble gifted to her by her fiance.

Taro stared, speechless and frozen while she drew closer. The hood of her wataboshi lifted just enough, blue eyes connecting with his for a moment. Kagome offered a brief smile, before continuing on undaunted.

She didn't acknowledge him beyond that and Taro couldn't find his voice. Couldn't call out to her. A heavy, pervasive feeling of intrusion rattled his bones. He wasn't supposed to see this. It felt like witnessing a ghost wandering her haunting grounds.

Turning tail, he ran to a high wall situated off the beach, ducking around it to watch.

Kagome stopped at the edge of the shoreline, staring out at the lonely ocean.

From the glitter of moonlight on the horizon, something arose from within shining waters. The outline of it became clearer, a pure white horse plunging through lapping waves.

Kagome's lips twitched despite her nerves and unease.

Galloping to pale shores, the Kelpie raced through shallow water in a wide arch along the beach towards her. His eyes gleamed, pupils slit. As he'd matured, magenta markings had appeared on his pale hide, which transferred whenever Sesshoumaru shapeshifted into a man.

When he halted before her, nostrils flared. Power radiated off him silently, affecting the very air and making mist brush her available skin. His wet mane and long tail sank down, reaching the water and pooling around his legs that remained firmly in the tide.

Sesshoumaru nudged at her face with his nose, nibbling at her traditional veil with unnervingly sharp rows of teeth. 'Remove this. I wish to see your face.'

"How romantic," Kagome smirked. Taking her wataboshi in hand and lifting it off her head, she tossed it aside. "So, what happens now?"

The towering Kelpie gazed at her quietly, ears pricking. His gaze slid down Kagome's body, exhaling slowly in a way that signalled she'd pleased him. 'Climb atop my back, Bride.'

Shaking out her hair from where she'd pinned it into place, Kagome allowed it to fall in rich ebony waves over her shoulders, rounding Sesshoumaru's side. Gripping his sleek mane, she smiled when he lowered himself into the waters, hauling herself onto his back. She noticed the necklace she'd given him had been woven into his hair, and stifled a giggle.

The Kelpie stood, droplets falling to the dragging tide. When he began walking back towards the sea, waves climbing higher around them, Kagome gripped onto his mane tighter.

'Trust, Kagome.'

She swallowed, feeling very sober suddenly. Looking towards the dark waters beckoning them down into their shadowy depths, her stomach squeezed into knots. The dreams came to mind; memories of years upon years having known this creature. How her skin had wrinkled in the water because of how long they'd indulged in the pool. Late night talks at the local park. Messages left in glass bottles.

He craned his neck to look at her with impossibly yellow eyes.

Kagome picked a water reed out his silver strands in a familiar gesture, stroking his dappled back.

"Trust, Sesshoumaru."

He made a low noise of approval, continuing to walk with his head held high. Kagome straightened her back, letting out a shuddering breath and cementing her fate.

The only witness to their marriage ceremony was Taro, who gaped in horror. The Kelpie and his bride walked into the ocean together, black water closing in over their heads.

Nothing resurfaced. Not a ripple disturbed the moonlit surface, the tide rolling as it always did. Taro turned on his heel and bolted, crying out for his father and calling for help.

----

Many people swept the area that night, a rescue team searching the seafloor.

Twenty-eight-year-old, Kagome Higurashi was never found. Without a body to recover, she was listed as missing. When the authorities notified her Mother, she seemed strangely nonplussed.

Taro miserably kept fishing, though nothing lifted his spirits. He could barely sleep nor eat after what he'd seen, feeling guilty for letting it happen. It wasn't until some locals reported seeing a pair of wild horses on the beach did he liven. Hearing the details, he hurried to the designated spot they'd been spotted.

The same large white steed he'd glimpsed that terrible night thundered through the waves, clearing a path for the horse behind him. The female's black shiny coat and dark curling mane tickled Taro's memory, and a weight lifted from his chest.

He watched them chase one another along the beach until the heavens opened. The Kelpies disappeared mid-gallop within harsh rainfall, leaving no traces of themselves behind save for their lifting cries ringing through Taro's ears.

End