She slowly turned towards him as he searched for the right words. Sesshomaru's eyes widened. It was such a small detail, but he hadn't noticed until now. He didn't know her name. "What do you want me to call you?" he asked a little more gruffly than he meant to, infuriated with himself for his negligence.
A long silence dragged out between them, and she just stared at him. For a moment, Sesshomaru almost thought she wouldn't tell him when she spoke up in a small voice. "Shizuka."
Sesshomaru sighed, reaching forward to trace a strand of her hair, restraining the urge to wince when she flinched. Fear was a very natural reaction to his presence, and normally it was something he welcomed...but every time she shied away from him it bothered him. Even in her innocence, surely she must sense that he was holding back on some level for her sake. Those he cared about had always harbored unbridled admiration for him, without any real effort on his part. He had always been very direct in his nature, to pursue what he wanted, uncertainty was not something he was familiar with. Her fear made him nervous, because he did not know how to win her over.
He knew the moment he saw her that she was fit to be his mate, it was as if she was designed for him. He had felt the warmth radiating from her, and due to his misunderstanding, he had all but snuffed it out. He was brought out of his thoughts when a low rumble reached his ears, and he watched as Shizuka coiled into herself, pursing her lips in embarrassment.
His brows furrowed. "Why didn't you tell me you were hungry?"
Shizuka gave him a sheepish look.
"Come."
She nodded, rising to her feet. Sesshomaru blinked as he saw her outfit in its entirety, and he decided that he would always share his wardrobe with her if it meant seeing her dressed like this. She looked divine in his kimono, even though it was much too big for her small frame.
Feeling oddly possessive at that moment, he wrapped his arms about her and pulled her to him, and buried his nose in her hair, enjoying the way their scents mingled.
...
Shizuka stared into his chest with wide eyes, she didn't know what was wrong with her, but when he held her like this, she felt so safe. She almost forgot she couldn't trust him, and her arms rose of their own accord to clutch at his back. And as quickly as the moment had come, it passed. She wrenched herself out of his grip and put some distance between them.
The second she made eye-contact with Sesshomaru, she wished she hadn't. His eyes were contemplative as he focused on her, as if she had just given away some sort of secret.
The journey to the kitchens was quiet, but Shizuka was just happy to be out of that room. She had contemplated exploring on several occasions, but every time Sesshomaru was in his study looking through scrolls and various parchment on his desk, preventing her exit. She wondered vaguely if he ever got hungry or tired. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, although she was generally attracted to gruffer men, if she was being honest with herself...he was very handsome, beautiful even. His eyes were the most striking shade of gold, and his hair was like rivers of silk. He looked exquisite in the torchlight.
Shizuka forced herself to focus as they arrived at the kitchens, walking ahead of Sesshomaru and missing the small smirk that curled his lips. But he was all but forgotten as she saw who was seated at the table, his cheek resting on his crossed arms, his eyes glassy as he stared at nothing. He looked terrible, his skin was pale and he had dark rings beneath his eyes, and horror clawed at her belly as she noticed bruises. "Ran?"
He turned to look at her, and his expression was a mix of relief and desperation as he scrambled towards her and buried his face into her chest, hugging her like she was a lifeline. Though he was silent, she could feel him tremble in her arms.
...
Sesshomaru watched the exchange curiously, this was a side of her he had only glimpsed. Gone was the trembling, confused, and scared female, and in her place was a steadfast mother looking after her pup.
"What happened to your haori?" Shizuka crooned, stroking his hair in a soothing way.
"They t-took it." he said, obviously trying to hide the tremble in his voice.
"Who did?"
"It wasn't s-so bad at first, just n-names when they walked by. But then they started to come after m-me..." he wiped furiously at his tears, his arms shaking violently. "I tried to run away, b-but they're so much s-stronger than humans."
Though she was outwardly calm, Sesshomaru could feel her outrage rolling off her in waves. He held no personal attachment to the half-breed child, but he recognized that she was a maternal figure to him. To raise a hand against a pup, was the ultimate insult to its mother.
"They wouldn't let me see you." he hiccuped, losing the battle against his tears.
Shizuka kissed the top of his head. "Shh, I am here now."
"Please don't leave me again."
"I'm sorry, Ran. I should have protected you better." she cradled his head against her shoulder, embracing him tenderly. Ran could not see Shizuka's expression, but Sesshomaru could. The faint markings on her skin nearly glowed, her fangs were bared, and her eyes were narrowed slits. He could sense she wanted to tear the culprits apart, but did not in favor of comforting the frightened child. Sesshomaru decided he would deal with them himself, his mate-to-be would not be disrespected in such a manner within his home.
...
Jaken swallowed thickly, staring up at his lordship with bulbous eyes. "M-Milord? To go to such an extent for a dirty half-breed..."
"The boy belongs to Shizuka, and I will see to it that her property is not damaged."
Jaken's eyes lit up in understanding. "Ah, so you are doing it to woo the demoness? Very clever of you milord! I understand!"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "Do not cast your delusions upon my motives, Jaken. If he is ever harmed again, I will hold you responsible."
"Y-Yes milord..." the imp stammered fearfully.
Sesshomaru turned and walked away, his sensitive nose picking up Shizuka's scent. He was surprised to find them back in his personal chambers, and his hackles rose to see the mutt on his bed. He would allow Shizuka the boy, but his chambers were supposed to be for Shizuka and himself, and no one else. Ran was fast asleep in the curve of her body, and she looked up upon his arrival, and the tenderness in her eyes was disarming. His feet brought him to his bed almost of their own accord, and he crawled slowly up beside her. When she didn't seem to mind, he took it as permission, curling his large frame around hers.
She didn't so much as twitch at his touch. Silence lulled between them, and then she spoke.
"His village was attacked by bandits, and he would have died if I had not intervened. No more than a child, and completely alone in the world. He didn't even have a name."
Sesshomaru felt her coil tighter about the boy.
"Nobody cared if he lived or died, he was so thin, dressed in nothing but rags. How could they do that? How could they look at a little boy and feel no sympathy at all?"
He was silent.
"There's nothing wrong with him, who cares if he is half-demon or whatever."
"Humans tend to fear what they do not understand." Sesshomaru said softly.
"And what about demons?"
Author's Note: Sorry if Sesshomaru seems a little OOC, but I am trying to give his personality depth. I imagine him to be a bit socially awkward deep down because he was alone for a lot of his life (or at least it seems that way because he said having something to protect was weak at one point.) I don't think he has had very much intimate/friendly interaction.
