Kagome refused to touch him for a while. He would try to offer his arm in escorting her places and she would decline. He would purposely try to brush her fingers when he handed something to her and she would always hold her fingertips just out of reach. It was like he had put a restraining order on her with a minimum of ten feet between them at all times.
He thought long and hard sometimes about the connection between them. He hadn't thought being a teacher would be a problem, until she became one of his students. There were laws against certain situations between a teacher and student and, well, he would just have to work around them.
Kagome, on the other hand, was determined not to cause Sesshoumaru any more trouble. She would not hurt him again. But it seemed like she was doing just that, she sighed inwardly. Everytime she purposely avoided contact with him through his gloved hands she would see the flash of mild hurt that would cross his eyes. So, she figured if he was wearing gloves, it wasn't all that bad.
But if she ever touched his skin again, it wouldn't be good. Therefore, she insisted that he wear longsleeves and gloves at all times he was with her.
Kagome and Sesshoumaru had taken to an unusual past time not long after that first lunch date. Wherever they happened to be, he would sit and she would sit facing him. She would carefully gather his silver-white hair and bring it over his shoulder to her. Always combing her fingers through it, wary of any skin that she could possibly come into contact with.
Slowly, she would seperate the long strands into three sections, and begin braiding them. Lately, he had taken to braiding her hair as well, enjoying the way it felt as his fingers ran through it.
It was during one of these braiding-sessions that Kagome struck up a curious conversation. Sesshoumaru was leaning against the wall of his apartment livingroom with his arm propped up on one knee, watching Kagome braid his silky hair. She began it with a detached comment that clearly hinted at her curiousity.
"Your dad seems pretty important." she began.
"Yes." he had answered, and was amused by the glare she gave him for his nondescript answer. She persisted, "How important is he? What's his role in the clan?" she asked, getting specific.
"He is the former ruler of the Taisho Vampire Clan, as well as several others." he noted, watching her eyes grow wider.
"Yes," he clarified for her, "you are braiding the hair of royalty." he leaned in mockingly.
Her eyes returned to normal size, "Royalty or not, you're just Sesshou." she said. He was pleased to find that she was indeed, very much impressed, despite her denial.
"All first-born royalty are born with a sign of their lineage." he informed her matter-of-factly.
"Really, now?" Kagome said disinterstedly as she continued to braid.
"Would you like to see it?" he asked with an impish smirk. She arched an eyebrow at him and nodded. He leaned his head back again closed his eyes, letting the facade slip away slowly, so that he could hear every part of her reaction.
Kagome watched as Sesshoumaru began to change. Nothing beyond the subtleties changed, but change he did. She watched as his slightly pointed ears became more pronounced and the point became longer. Twin maroon stripes appeared on each cheek, stopping at the front of his face. His eyes were now lined with the same maroon of the stripes and his canine's lengthened and sharpened.
Her favorite change, though, was the elegant, crescent moon that slowly appeared on his forehead, completing the change. She gaped at him, her hands still. A movement caught her eye and she looked down at his hand that was resting on his knee. The nails were long and sharp, just like his teeth, resembling claws.
At her bewildered expression he announced his title, "Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western clans, at your service." he inlined his head and bowed respectfully.
--
Great goodness I needed a lift!
This little snippet was inspired by a picture on by the very talented Sesskag artist YoukaiYume called 'Hair Braiding'. I like the way she depicts Sesshoumaru and you should check out her entire Sesskag gallery, it will make you smile :D
Anyway, I had to fit this in somehow and it worked by itself, so there you go.
Review please!
