Dinner had gone smoothly. Sesshomaru could hear Kagome's laughter at the other end of the room while she bantered on with his brother. In a way, he was glad they had come. While in his study he had taken the time to go over his feelings.
He was discovering something that he had not really given much thought to. He liked Kagome. As a friend, certainly, and as a caretaker for Rin, absolutely; but it was not that way. For the past few weeks he had grown accustomed to her presence in his home.
If she were to go away, what then? He didn't even want to consider how he might feel then.
At that moment, Sesshomaru, had come to a decision. He would try to please her, in any way he could. Hoping that she would at least be affectionate to him, in some sense; if they could not be more then they could not. Wait. More? What was he thinking again?
Mentally he turned it over in his head, this way and that, finding that it settled into him, spreading warmth in his heart. He didn't mind. It was shocking. How had this come to be?
Well. He had always held a begrudging respect for her. And, let's see. He trusted her as far as one could trust a human and a woman. Oh. Right. That night. He had seen into her soul. She had been blinding and had called out to him, anyone, to rescue her from the pain.
And in response… he had felt his soul calling back. Answering hers in a way he could not comprehend.
Kagome had already taken the role of Rin's mother and it was so natural, too. She just… fell into place. Could it be that she was falling into another role without their knowing?
Earlier. In the study. She hadn't run away and had stared him down. They had been so close, screaming in each other's faces. It was exhilarating. So much that he had thought of arguing again, just to feel that emotion within him.
Somehow, he knew. Kagome was essential to him now.
The crowd of people entered into the dance hall now. Apparently they always had a dance as it gave people time to mingle and enjoy themselves.
Kagome groaned a little. She knew InuYasha would not dance with her. She didn't think he even knew how. So, she stood, next to him and fidgeted nervously as the couples danced around the room. Sango and Miroku had already waltzed off into the mass of people. She couldn't even see them anymore.
All at once, time seemed to slow down. She saw a hand, slender but strong, reach out for hers and a voice, calm but powerful, request a dance. Without even looking at whoever it might be she danced a little joyful jig in her head and nodded her assent. Somewhere to her side she heard InuYasha complaining but couldn't make out what he was saying. If he wouldn't dance with her then why should she bother to ask if he cares? She wanted to dance, this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for her! Who her partner was didn't matter, right?
Right. Keep telling yourself that, Kagome.
When she was twirled around and drawn into him, feeling his hand rest at her hip and forcefully pull her body to his, she looked up and was shocked. Sesshomaru. He was dancing with her. And not your normal friendly dance either. He was touching her in a way that sent goose bumps up her spine. What was this man doing to her?
He smiled at her open gape and lifted a hand, closing her mouth with a tap to her jaw. "It doesn't set well for a lady to gape so." Her eyes got wider, if it was possible, but he noticed the little flush on her face grow. He smirked in appreciation. Perhaps this night would be fun. "Of course, that's only if you're a proper lady."
And there went that mouth. Off to ruin it. Kagome sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. She wouldn't get mad. She wouldn't get mad. She kept the mantra close to her as she said it over and over in her mind. "Yes, I suppose that's true. I guess you could also say that it's true for a proper lord not to be so rude, but there are always exceptions."
He growled a little and she giggled. Good. Let him have a taste of his own medicine. Jerk. "Yes, that could be true, also. But I really doubt you're one to know of such things. Simple human mind couldn't really understand." He felt her stiffen and then pull back from him.
There was that finger again, along with the glare. He felt his adrenaline rush and he smiled at her. "Did I say something wrong, miko?" Her face went into a scowl and she grumbled under her breath.
"No, of course not. Why would you believe you said anything wrong? I'm too stupid to understand if you do anyway, right!" Her voice had climbed into a yell by the end and everyone had stopped to watch them. In the background they could hear some people laughing and a couple gasping in surprise and one groaning something about "not again…"
Kagome hated an audience. She turned her angry gaze to the onlookers and several shrunk back. Then she turned back to Sesshomaru. "Jerk!" She marched off, out of the room, but not before yelling to the crowd. "Did you have a good show!" Sango and Miroku were laughing outright now. They knew Kagome was always like this. She had grown so temperamental over the years. It was very funny.
InuYasha didn't find it very funny, though. He walked over to Sesshomaru, who was going to go after Kagome, and stopped him. "Hey! Where do you think you're going? Moron. You really know how to piss her off, don't you? I don't think she really wants your company right now."
Several people nodded, though not all. A voice came out from the group. Lord Keiji. "Go after her Sesshomaru. You know they're wrong. She's practically begging for you to follow and if you don't you'll miss your chance!" Quite a few people looked to him, including InuYasha, with confused expressions.
"Chance for what?" The hanyou asked with annoyance. As his attention diverted Sesshomaru cleared the room and ran to catch up with the miko. This fight was not over yet.
Lord Keiji shook his head at the ignorance of youth. "You young people really don't know anything, do you? Isn't it obvious that they're ignoring their feelings? Sure, they don't know each other very well, but that hasn't stopped a lot of happy couples. This is how it starts. If he doesn't take the chance and make a move she won't know he even cares. She won't know that she even cares."
"Wait a moment. Are you saying that you believe that Lady Kagome has feelings for Lord Sesshomaru?" Miroku asked in wonder. "That can't be possible. She's in love with InuYasha."
The Northern Lord looked unphased by this new bit of information. "So? And Koga claims that he's in love with her too. It doesn't seem to have changed much. I can almost bet my entire kingdom that if we locked her in a room with no escape and put Sesshomaru, Koga, and InuYasha in there that by the end of three days she and Sesshomaru would be all over each other. They're a volatile mix, no doubt, but that's part of their staying power. You say that she's in love with InuYasha but it's pretty obvious that he's not in love with her."
Sango looked at him with a bit of curiosity. "What do you mean?"
Keiji laughed. "Because if he did then he wouldn't be standing here now, he'd have gone after Sesshomaru three minutes ago when he snuck past him."
Everyone turned to look at InuYasha who now had a sheepish look on his face. "I never said that I loved her! You just thought that!" He flushed and ran off to hide somewhere.
Sango and Miroku groaned. He never could admit his feelings openly and now he was going to lose her! "What an idiot." They looked down to see Shippo, shaking his head at InuYasha, and had to agree.
"Jerk! Jerk! Jerk!" Kagome roared as she entered her room and slammed the door behind her. She wasn't really sure why she was mad anymore.. just knew that it felt so good. He deserved it either way.
She sat on her futon and mused over her behavior. Somehow he seemed to get such a rise out of her. It really amazed her. Usually she was so calm. Okay. Maybe not. But not this quick, right? Biting her lip she glanced in the mirror and sighed, wiping the makeup off her face with a baby wipe.
Apparently it hadn't worked. Just what she was aiming for, she wasn't sure, but she could see something there, beyond his eyes that she wanted to touch. Something sacred that was unknown and so special. She figured if she could get his attention then many she could open that up, see what was beyond. But he hadn't really looked at her.
She threw the wipe across the room in agitation. What was going on here anyway? He acted as if he had been by her side the entire time she were here, like he knew what she was thinking and feeling. How could he know? He kept himself holed up in that stupid study all the time.
Then she remembered something. The humming. He had told her that he could hear it.. all the way from the study. He had been eavesdropping! The little sneak!
It was at this moment that Sesshomaru entered the room, closing the door behind him. She stood, angry and glared at him. "First off, why the hell are you coming in without knocking or permission or anything? Don't you have any manners? Secondly, I know you were eavesdropping on me and what I told Rin. That's really rude, too! Didn't your mot.."
She never finished. He didn't bother to reply. He simply walked up, grabbed her face in his hands and did the first impulse that came to mind. He kissed her.
Kagome pulled away, infuriated. "Hey! Wait! Who said you cou.." Again. He silenced her with a kiss. He was enjoying the way her lips felt but as she continued to squirm against him he couldn't help but wonder. Lifting his head away from her and breaking the kiss he spoke before she could begin again. "Kagome, do you mind if I kiss you?"
That was it! How could he ask now! "What! Why did yo.." He smirked and dove in on her lips, crushing her body to his and running his hands through her hair. Such passion! A moment or two passed and he gave up, pushing his lips onto hers roughly, begging to be let in. She whimpered against him and he groaned as his tongue found hers.
He felt her fists loosen and her arms drape over his shoulders, tracing through his hair and on his neck. She began to respond to the kiss, moaning slightly, and her skin heated up. Why was he kissing her? She wondered. Did it matter? He was such a good kisser, after all.
Then, he parted from her, fully. She was left, standing in her room and looking at the open door. As he retreated she heard one final phrase. "I win."
He laughed as he heard her scream out. And everyone below heard his laugher ring through the halls.
