Originally written for Challenge Destiny (Eternal Destiny's livejournal companion group)'s summer contest. Enjoy! :)
1. Promises
Prompt: Blossom
"You're amazing," Kagome whispered, making his cheeks blossom in a rare smile. She had a way of doing that to him. Her innocently spoken, but sincerely meant words made him feel fiercely pleased with himself and his abilities.
...not that InuYasha Taisho, one of the best detectives in Tokyo, lacked confidence. The man proved skill, and the media praised him with every case he famously closed. What made Kagome special was her witnessing his successes. Because of the irregular hours he kept at work, girlfriends willing to stick with him were rare.
Wrapping his arms around the girl who was different, he grinned.
"How so?" he teased, examining her messily tied hair. A simple, silver ribbon—reminiscent of his own uniquely hued hair—held her onyx locks up, but he much preferred them loose and untamed.
Kagome elbowed him for yanking the ribbon, then held up the day's paper.
"Look," she said, giggling when her boyfriend feigned hurt by her jab. "You made the front page for breaking that Peach Man case!"
The detective snorted at the obnoxious headline.
For years the cannibal Peach Man terrorized Tokyo with his infamous kill and torture spree. His M.O was to go after men, but when women began disappearing, InuYasha took interest in the difficult case, then cracked it.
"People like him make the world terrifying, but you make it less so by stopping them," Kagome explained, gazing adoringly at InuYasha.
"That's why I think you're amazing."
InuYasha sighed. She, too, was amazing, but he couldn't tell her that just yet. Instead, he did the next best thing.
"Don't ever be scared of men like Peach Man," he told her seriously. "Because I'll alwaysprotect you."
"Promise?" Kagome laughed.
Rather than answer, InuYasha kissed her, then reluctantly left to go to work.