Chapter 7: Joking

The night flew by quickly by her side. He never had truly understood why his half-brother was so keen on keeping her when he had another. But spending the shortest of times with the young woman made him realize that there was something addicting, no, intoxicating about her that would make oneself leech on her. Oddly, she did remind him of Kikyo: dark locks, brown eyes, milky skin. In fact, they were almost identical. But she, she had something that Kikyo never had and never will; a soul. A genuine one. One that thrives to live and hope for the better, one that is filled with warmth and love, one that is also hurting and that can be capable of generosity. Selflessness.

"Sesshomaru?" Her worried voice asked.

He turned to her with a blank face then cocked a brow, trying to understand why she was looking at him so intently.

"Wait. Did you just zone out? Did you even hear what I was saying?" Her eyes widened and all he could do was to keep his brow cocked. Was she really trying to make him feel like a fool for being caught in his thoughts? She brought herself closer to him, her index finger childishly pointing at him. Ah, but she most definitely is.

"Oh my god! The great Sessomaru Taisho, zoning out. This is unheard of!" Kagome's intentions to tease amused him. She stuck her tongue out playing fully while tugging at her left lower eyelid. Hn. Was all he could think of. As Higurashi continued to play around with him, he decided that he too shall play her little game.

"Woman. Do not test my patience." He spat out flatly.

"Oh come on you oaf, I was just joking around." She pouted whilst frowning. "This is why both of you brothers can't get along, neither of you know how to joke around."

"So this Sesshomaru, can't joke around?" Taisho asked making his way in front of her. He towered above her small frame and he admired her audacity to look him straight in the eye with so much fire in petite nature, arms on her waist, standing tall beneath his glare.

"Nope. The most humorless man I've ever man pal."

What she did not notice was as they were having such a petty conversation, they were moving. She was taking steps back and he advanced slowly, but surely on her. Suddenly, Kagome's back gently hit a wall. She was trapped and that, made Sesshomaru smirk. He lowered his face closer to hers, silver locks forming curtains around them. He observed that the woman did her best to keep her calm until his face was too close for her liking.

That was when he saw it; her face became a stunning shade of pink, her breathing was a little louder and the hilarious facial expression of discomfort began drawing itself.

"S-Se-Sesshomaru! What are you doing?!" She squealed, eyes projecting confusion.

Sesshomaru almost closed the gap between their lips, leaving but a mere half a centimetre between them. He felt her breathe on his skin, it was invigorating.

"B-bu-but we caaaaaan't -"

"Ah," he began cooly, "but this Sesshomaru was only joking." He smirked at Kagome as he began walking away, leaving the Miko weak in the knees.