Painted Black

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or it's characters.

A dilemma.

That is what Sesshomaru had. Never in all his years of existence had he been so set on the idea of being unseen by any youkai, hanyou, or human. All because of tiny little girl! A puny thing that barely reached his hip! Oh how the mighty have fallen, tumbled, rolled and buried in dirt. He wiggled his brows experimentally after he checked no one was looking, and was surprised by the strange sensation—again. He simply could not wrap his mind around the idea he now had no brows! And though Kagome had explained they would grow back, he simply did not want to wait. One could only be so patient.

Sesshomaru sighed and turned towards the dwindling fire in the center of the cave they were in. Both Kagome and Rin laid on the other side of the fire asleep. He'd promised her to return her to his baka half brother in the morning, something he was regretting. He wanted to keep her with him so she could fix the damage her potions had caused! Surely a weapon like that...'Na-yer'...she'd described would bring youkai to their knees. If not for the atrocious consequences of applying it onto one's person—then from the smell.

He hated the fact she saw him without his eyebrows—and hated that he couldn't use their power against her! Kagome had never been able to resist his nicely trimmed brows, specially when he cocked one at her—he specially liked that one as she would forget what she was saying and cease speaking for a while, allowing him to drink her in.

Deciding he wanted his little dilemma—because that's what it was—fixed, Sesshomaru stood up and knelt next to the two sleeping forms. "Miko," he called softly, not wanting to wake Rin up as well.

Kagome turned in her sleep and opened droopy eyes, sighing she rubbed the sleep out of them. "S—Sesshomaru?" was her feeble whisper, sleep thickly laced.

"You will fix this," Sesshomaru ordered pointing at the bare flesh above his golden eyes.

Kagome cleared her throat and resisted the urge to laugh...again. "I don't think I can fix that Sesshomaru. They just have to grow back on their own," she said sleepily, laying on her back and looking up at a frowning Taiyoukai.

"Woman, you will concoct a potion to counter that...'Na-yer' vile of yours," Sesshomaru glared down at her small form, half covered in a blanket. He hated waking her up and out from under such warmth, but he refused to continue to patrol his lands without being 100% intact.

After Sesshomaru stared down at her for a while, Kagome gave a dramatic sigh and pushed her self up. "Alright alright!" Kagome sighed exasperated.

She rose herself to her knees and crawled to her yellow backpack, giving Sesshomaru a good view of her pajama clad rear-end. He growled in approval and ignored the confused look Kagome threw over her shoulder.

After hovering and digging over the lip of her monstrous backpack, Kagome pulled up on her knees and exclaimed, "Here it is!"

In her hand, she held a small black pencil, and she crawled back to Sesshomaru hurriedly. "Alright now, let's get closer to the light," she instructed.

Sesshomaru looked at the tiny stick in her hand suspiciously, but then resigned to the knowledge he really didn't have a choice if he wanted the damage fixed. He narrowed his eyes at the tiny thing in Kagome's hand as she pulled the cap off and held it in a tight grip in her tiny hand.

"Alright Sesshomaru, don't move," she instructed, moving the pencil towards him.

Sesshomaru's golden orbs narrowed and narrowed more as he continued to glare at the sharp object coming closer to his brow. He stilled when he felt the blunt tip on him, and then glide over his forehead. He lifted one bare mound of flesh as if lifting a brow at Kagome, but she ignored it.

"I said don't move Sesshomaru," Kagome chastised.

After a moment, Kagome exclaimed triumphantly, "There! All done!"

Sesshomaru reached up to feel his brows and rubbed them, causing Kagome to smack his hand away and redraw his brow. He looked down at his fingers and found them smeared with black paint.

"Sesshomaru, don't touch it or you'll ruin it."

Sesshomaru growled softly, glaring at the woman he courted.

Kagome sat on her bended legs and studied her work, "Alright then, I'm going to sleep now." With that, Kagome returned next to Rin and allowed sleep to take hold of her.

Sesshomaru, too, allowed himself to rest and sleep—finally the worry easing away.

OoO The Next Morning OoO

"Thank you for everything Sesshomaru," Kagome smiled up at her Taiyoukai, and hugged him tightly around the waist without hurting herself on his armor. Sesshomaru returned her hug with one arm, lightly placing his hand on her back.

Just then Inuyasha broke through the forest named after him and stopped dead on his tracks, the rest behind him.

Sango, who'd been running, crashed right onto Inuyasha's back, "Inuyasha, what's wrong?" she asked. Miroku used the opportunity to 'crash' into Sango and accidentally slap her derrière. Sango turned around and automatically slapped the monk, "Pervert".

Miroku and Sango turned around and stared right ahead, their jaws dropping. Sango shut it right away as she remembered who she was gawking at.

Kagome looked from Sesshomaru to her friends and then hoped they hadn't noticed Sesshomaru's difference. Apparently they had as Inuyasha burst laughing, followed by Miroku.

"Sesshomaru—what happened to you?!" Inuyasha cried out as his laughter threatened to choke him.

Sesshomaru stared at his half brother, his hand resting on Tokiji. Kagome placed one hand over Sesshomaru's and shook her head, "It's okay Sesshomaru, he just wants to get to you," she eased.

"Are you kidding me! Look at his brows! They're look like thin antennas!" Inuyasha laughed. His laughter was suddenly cut off as Sesshomaru pinned him to a tree.

"Do not be jealous, little brother. My future mate has assured me this is modern fashion," Sesshomaru glared, tightening his hold on his brother's throat.

Inuyasha looked at Kagome over Sesshomaru's head, and Kagome nodded. "Yup, Sesshomaru's right—that's exactly how modern men attract women. You should try it Inuyasha...Miroku," Kagome defended, a wide grin on her face. She secretly wondered if they'd really fall for it. She knew Miroku would—if only to attract the female population.

"Keh, whatever," Inuyasha huffed, struggling to take air into his lungs.

Sesshomaru dropped him to the floor and glared at the monk, who only bowed respectfully, a grin on his face. Sesshomaru turned and in a heart beat stood by Kagome.

"Until next time, Kagome," he said tenderly. He caught sight of his little brother rising to his feet and couldn't help but play with him a little more. Sesshomaru moved to the side a step so he was facing Inuyasha's direction and bent down to capture Kagome's lips in his.

He opened his eyes and stared straight at his little brother, smirking while enjoying his miko's anything-but-shy kiss. He lifted a thin, painted brow pointedly at Inuyasha, as if restating, 'See what I mean—watch and learn.'

Miroku's jaw dropped once again, "How do I shave my brows now Sango?"

A/N: LMAO! I'm sorry, I just had to write this little follow up!