Her Hearts Winter Thaw

By Dragonessclaw

Disclaimer: I make no money off of this story. The characters are the work of the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi, only the story is mine.

Chapter 13 The Green Eyed Monster Raises It's Silver Head

"Thank you again Seamstress Cho," Kagome said as she bowed and took her leave, it was time to return home.

She had been requested by the elder miko of the village and upon arrival had found that the village had its own seamstress. Never one to pass up an opportunity Kagome commissioned some towels and things of the sort.

It had been two weeks since she left Sesshomaru's castle and she was feeling a little better. He had not been happy of course but it wasn't as if Kagome was going to let that stop her. He could not expect her to just leave everything and move out all at once. She needed to take baby steps this was her home they were talking about and it was big deal for her.

Singing as she continued her trek home Kagome stopped as she was starting to get irritated. "You know if you are going to continue to follow you could at least walk with me and keep me company," Kagome said to her stalker.

"Forgive me my lady miko," the man said as he stepped from behind the tree he thought he was doing a good job of hiding behind.

"I don't know how you noticed me but I would gladly walk beside you. I met no harm but a pretty lady like yourself should not be walking around without an escort. Even for women doing the Kamis work these are still dangerous times to be walking alone," the stranger said as he ambled up beside her.

Kagome appraised the man standing before her. She recognized him immediately as the one from the last village she helped that had offered to carry her basket for her.

That was one thing Kagome would admit to, the gyms of her time had nothing on the workout the men got in this time just from not having the modern day conveniences she grew up with. And boy did it show, not that she was really looking but she did have eyes.

He was a ruggedly handsome man, tall and lean but very muscular and tanned from hours in the sun doing an honest day's work. He had light brown eyes with beautiful long lashes that only women should be blessed with. His clothes were simple but relatively clean and his smile was very alluring. Not only did it reveal the cutest dimple on his left cheek but brightened his whole face. It gave him a nice mixture of good guy that likes to be naughty every now and again.

Chastising herself for the direction her train of thoughts were taking Kagome declined.

"Thank you very much but I assure you I am more than capable of taking care of myself," Kagome said politely.

"Well then maybe I could just accompany you for a while. It has been quite a while since I was last in the company of such a beautiful lady. My name is Hinomura, Kyo" he said as he flashed a smile that would make any normal woman weak in the knees.

Blushing lightly Kagome nodded and continued walking.

"So, why do you travel? Wouldn't you rather pick a village to stay in and settle down?" Kyo asked.

"I did for a long time. Now I just like to travel, maybe someday I will settle down in one place for good." Kagome responded. Kyo was certainly interesting and also a big flirt but Kagome didn't mind. It was kind of cute. It was also nice to be treated like a regular woman, not the Shikon miko and not the odd one.

"What about you? Do you not have a family?"

"No but I am always on the lookout. Any suggestions?" he asked flirtatiously.

Laughing at his Miroku-ness Kagome said, "Nope sorry. I guess you will just have to keep looking."

The two continued to laugh and talk for the next few hours with Kagome glancing around every so often. She kept getting a tingling sensation but as soon as she tried to pinpoint it the sensation would vanish. Sensing no threat she continued on but kept extra alert.

Kyo finally begged off after promising to visit soon. Kagome doubted he would. He seemed to lose steam once he realized that his normal good natured humor and boyish charm weren't getting Kagome to budge as he had hoped.

After a lingering kiss on the back of Kagome's hand Kyo turned and headed back in the direction of his village. Neither party saw the golden red eyes narrow and follow Kyo's progress back towards where he had come neither did they hear the low growl that had ensued.

Further back in the woods Sesshomaru tried to calm down, for a change he and his beast were in perfect unison. He knew the miko would pick up the male following her but he felt the need to watch. She was more than a match for such a weakling, however upon smelling his arousal Sesshomaru almost beheaded the man instantly.

That was when he heard Kagome address the male and he knew he'd missed his chance to get rid of him without her noticing. So Sesshomaru had stayed back holding back the snarls that kept trying to arise at the male's obvious flirtation with his miko. Sesshomaru had been doing well until he saw the male's lips on what he deemed his and his control almost slipped. Taking a deep breath Sesshomaru closed his eyes and tried to center his self. Taking the scroll from his sleeve he reminded himself of his reason for visiting and quickly walked ahead so that he would be there at the hut waiting when the miko arrived. As he went over all the different feelings he was experiencing and tried to squash his irritation at the male's behavior Sesshomaru sighed. That woman would be the death of him.

/oo/oo/

Until next time guys. I hope you all liked it. I also hope you feel a little better with Sesshomaru having an actual reason for coming by instead of just being a gorgeous stalker.