Chapter 7: Memories and Comfort
"You have a beautiful laugh Kagome," he watched as she blushed and looked away from him he found he was liking this side of her. When semi-relaxed she was so unguarded most of her torment was gone. He was glad that only he made her feel this way. Kagome gasped looking at the clock
"I didn't know it was that late"
"Oh well time to go," he stood up taking his plate and glass into the kitchen Kagome followed behind him carrying hers' she sighed 'maybe it won't hurt if he stayed one night'
"You can stay the night if you like?" he hesitated for a moment not believing his ears. 'did she just?' 'yup' ' should I?'
"Why, not if it's not a problem," his Inu surging forth to answer
"Okay let me show you to your room," she spoke softly leading him up the stairs and down the hall till they reached a room. Kagome pushed open the door and stepped in Sesshoumaru right behind her took in the room with a approving nod. The room was done from the darkest gray to silver all the furniture was black the only color in the room was red. The comforter on the bed and the pillows on the chairs sported this color. He watched as she moved though the room opening doors on one side of the room.
"This is the bathroom; there are clean towels if you want to shower. And this is the closet you should find something to fit you"
The bathroom was gray and black marble with red towels he smirked liking it more and more. Coming to the closet he paused in shock it was a large walk-in closet hangers shelves full of black pants shirts of all kinds and shoes. A jealous feeling flooded him 'another man stays here and she offers me his clothes'
"I think your boyfriend will get mad seeing me in his clothes don't you?" he started angrier clear in his voice. Kagome lowered her head her bangs covering her eyes but she still couldn't keep the sadness out of her voice.
"Believe me Shippo wouldn't mind. He's been gone for two years now," she hated the way she sounded at that moment.
She tried to keep from shaking as the old pain hit her anew like it was just yesterday. She took in a shaky breath trying to calm herself not wanting to fall apart her in front of him. Guilt flooded Sesshoumaru as again her pain; her torment filled the air in the room. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms anything to stop the pain that threaten to drown him at this very moment. "Forgive me Kagome I didn't mean to. . ." she stopped him by waving a hand in the air as she turned away from him and started to walk away from him.
"Think nothing of it," came her whisper as she closed the door. He watched after her for a moment before sighing and turning back to the closet glaring at it as if it had wronged him.
"Stupid... stupid how stupid can I be . . . damn," he found him self-pacing the room furious with himself. His Inu whimpered an apology sad to have caused the girl they loved to remember something hurtful. After two long hours of pacing, he stripped down to his boxers and slide into bed. 'At least he had good taste in sheets,' he thought loving the feel of the silk sheets against is skin as he drifted off to sleep.
Sleep did not come easy for Kagome this evening even after taking a long hot bath she still wasn't relaxed. The old ache of losing Shippo still ate at her heart as she listened to the sounds of the night drifting through the open window. She grabbed her chest finding it hard to breathe as the pain grew, her head ached, her eyes burning but still no tears fell from her eyes. She turned to look at the bed as the images became clear.
*HDA*
The sounds of the night drifted into the dark room as the couple snuggled closer together in the bed. Moonlight streamed thought the open window illuminating the couple. The man laid on his back his tan skin glowing in the light his long red hair fanned out around his head like a halo. He looked so peaceful as he slept with a smile on his face. In his arms lay a pale girl her skin shining like a pearl in the moonlight. Her raven hair mixing with his red the two crated a perfect picture of contrast light, dark, peacefulness, and love.
They often slept in the same bed together just holding each other his way of protecting her from nightmares. On the other hand, during thunderstorms he knew she was afraid of them since the death of the family. He would hold her whispering words of his love while stroking her hair soothing her fared nerves.
The Miko loved the forest Kitsune and how he tried to protect her from everything. He was her shield from the world her armor from the pain.
Earlier that night there was a terrible thunderstorm he had come to her room after hearing her whimpers. She tried to be strong but was failing badly. He just climbed into her bed and pulled her close to him soothing her. Kagome had no fear of touching Shippo had a away of blocking his mind from her which she was grateful for.
When they finally got to sleep Kagome jumped awake screaming after having a terrible dream. The voices, screaming she didn't know if it was her or someone else, darkness surrounding her. Something splashed on her face she didn't know what but the smell made her stop as she wiped it off.
Looking at her hands, she saw it was blood that was covering her face. She fell to her knees shaking when something whispered her name. She turned to see the beautiful forest green eyes she loved turn lifeless as they stared that her. It clicked she knew those eyes Shippo she whimpered and scream out waking the Kitsune beside her. Shippo wrapped his arms around the shaking the Kagome whispering to her.
"It's okay koi it was just a dream I am right here"
"No Shippo, no I saw you dead I saw you," she sobbed into his chest.
"No, koi I am right here nothing's going to happen," he comforted her until the sun rose as she finally slept he smiled down at her the girl in his arms. It took a whole day of him trying to keep her calm from that dream.
Than two days later he was killed brutally just like in her dream, she witnessed the whole thing. Even with her, statement the guy got away.
*HDA**
Sesshoumaru's eye snapped open as he heard the door open. He saw her as she entered the room as if in a trance. She was dressed in a black silk nightgown it clung to her body showing off her curves with splits up both sides showing her legs as she walked. Her raven hair hung to her knees like a waterfall it swayed as she walked. His Inu growled lustfully form its mental prison. He was hard pressed not to jump out of bed and take her as his own.
He looked at the clock it was 4 am than he looked back at her. 'What is wrong with her? Where is she going?'
She looked neither left nor right as she walked through the room straight to the closet. He watched as she entered not evening turning on the light and paddled to a place he could not see. He grew worried as he rose from the bed hearing her light footsteps stop and her soft whisper.
"Oh Shippo I should have tried harder. I should have made you believe me," she pulled the shirt from the small shelf burying her face in it. Kagome could still feel traces of him even after two years it was as if he was still there. She wanted so much to go back to make things right to have him hold her like before. Images of him flashed though her mind. She was so caught up in the past she didn't notice the Inu Youkai watching her from the doorway curiously.
'Is she crying? Oh my angel what is wrong what are you seeing that causes you so much pain?'
His Inu urging him forward as he watched her start shaking as if moments away from breaking down. Her pain again seeping into his skin he felt her pain deep in his soul. Taking her shaking form quickly into his arms his Inu letting lose a soft growl as if trying to comfort her. She turned throwing her arms around his waist in a crushing hug.
"I knew you wouldn't leave me. Forgive me my Shippo I should have tried harder. I should have made you listen and we would have stayed home," he was shocked at her words. 'Did she think? She is blaming herself but for what?' he thought confused. Nevertheless, he was determined to calm her as her pain threatens to bring him to tears.
He did the only thing he could think of as she repeated her plea repeatedly as if waiting for an answer.
"Its okay koi don't blame yourself," he whispered kissing the top of her head. He was torn his body ache from her nearness but his senses whirled from her scent that hung heavy in the air of pain and sadness. It took a while but the combination of his stroking her back and his Inu soft growl she calmed and her breathing evened out. He lifted her into his arms bridal style looking down at the small girl sleeping in his arms he smiled. She felt so right in his arms like this is where she was supposed to be.
Sesshoumaru followed her scent back to her room after deciding she would not like to wake up in his bed. Using his foot, he opened the door the room was done in black and silver. The furniture was black lacquer the comforter pillows silver even the curtains that danced in the breeze were silver. Placing her on the bed, he kissed her forehead and stepped back watching her sleep. Her face was so relaxed so peaceful as she slept he never remember a time when she looked so peaceful.. It was almost frightening to him as his heart skipped a beat watching her.
She rolled over using her arm as a pillow he noticed arms they were stripped like a Youkai. He stepped closer within the strips look like burns 'what in Kami name was she mated before? Those burns who would do that? Is that why she wears long sleeves all the time?' he shook his head as it filled with questions. Nevertheless, thinking those were for another time. He stared at her for a few more minutes than left knowing if he didn't he would end up crawling into bed with her.
Smells of food cooking woke him the next morning. He took a hot shower, dressed in faded black jeans and a black muscle shirt placing a studded collar around his neck and fixed the silver chains that hung from his pants. Picking up his black boots, he left the room.
He strolled into the kitchen greeted by the sight of Kagome cooking. She was dressed in slightly baggy black pants with a sheer red long sleeved corset blouse that laced up the back. Her hair was in a thick braid hanging over one shoulder.
He wanted nothing more at that moment than to have her turn around he knew if she looked that good from the back than she would be exquisite from the front. She spoke without turning around
"Morning Sesshoumaru breakfast will be ready in a moment"
"Morning Kagome," he purred watching her shapely behind as she walked around the kitchen.
Breakfast again was done in a comfortable silence.
He wanted to say something anything but could not bring himself to do it. Here he sat across from the woman he wanted so bad it hurt and he could not think of one thing to say.
Kagome was lost in her own thoughts as she ate. 'it was so real that dream last night' his ringing phone brought her out of her thoughts. She loaded the dishwasher as he talked.
'This is so scary why did he stay? Why is he acting as if we have been doing this forever? What is it about him that makes me feel so . . . Strange?'
Kagome felt him follow her out the front door she was about to say something but he pulled her into his embrace kissing her on the forehead. She stiffened at first in shock no one but Ryuu had hugged her without asking.
However, this was different it was not brotherly like Ryuu it felt strange almost warm like.
As Sesshoumaru got in his car, he watched her smile as she wrapped her arms around herself. 'She should smile more often' he thought proud of himself for putting that smile there. He knew it shocked her when he embraced her but he couldn't help it, it felt right but he was glad now he did it. He knew than that his mind was made up she would be his mate. Hey wasn't his father always saying he needed someone well he found her. Oh yes he did and he would do anything to see that beautiful smile again.
She snapped out of her daze with a frown as she saw him drive off. 'I do not have time for this' her pleasant thoughts turned dark as she jumped into her Hummer and drove to school.
She parked in her usual spot and walked by Sesshoumaru and his friends into school without a backwards glance.
He saw her when she arrived at school but he knew she would not stop she would not say anything to him. He smirked he would just have to show her that she belong to him. 'Oh yes this is going to be an interesting day'
