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Peeking from under the eyelashes, Kagome covered her mouth blocking the titter that threatened to escape at the sight of heavy lidded body reclining on a chair. Head tipped back, sunrays warming the masculine face, he took a deep satisfied breath, slumping further.
She doubted he even knew what he was doing.
Sashaying further, she leaned closer touching the tips of the damp strands "Much better but it seems a trim is in order. Do you mind?"
She translated the guttural grunt that fallowed into 'sure, knock yourself out'.
"Be right back" she promised in a voice sparkling with happiness.
One eye, half open he followed the mad dash upstairs, his lip quirking. Turning again to the sun his features calmed, peacefulness enveloping him.
Bouncing down the stairs, Kagome slowed the descent, rounding it while holding the railing. Dropping the assortment of mismatched tools and accessories on the table, she run her hands, styling the hair experimentally. Nodding to herself, she easily untangled twists and snarls, before evenly brushing the strands. It wasn't the requisite hundred strokes advertised through the ages but it was close enough – the fussing prolonged due to its soothing nature.
Leaning over his shoulder, she switched to scissors. Tensing, he snatching the wrist, staring at her questioningly, lines returning to his face.
"Just a slight cut, please?" she begged with the most pitiful voice she could muster. "Trust me?"
Releasing her, he did not allow his hands to hang loose at the sides as before but instead he rummaged through the accessories' box, spilling an army of plain bobby pins, colourful hair ties and elegant clasps. Sorting them on the table, be that by types, sizes or shapes he distracted himself from the sharp, dangerous plates of metal snipping at the back of his head. He knew well how much damage could be done with a pair of these.
"You see? Not that scary" the moist breath tickled his earlobe as her voice pulled him out of the dark musings.
Eyes focusing, he noticed the pair of scissors resting on the table, his shoulders imperceptibility dropping.
"And now for the centrepiece" she dived for the tie in a muted chestnut colour. A piece of lighter wood hanging from the twine flashed in the corner of his eyes before disappearing behind his back.
"What was that?"
"Huh?" Kagome asked wrestling with the mass of hair, the comb and the tie.
"The carving." He clarified. "What is it?"
Kagome's hands stilled before resuming "Just a small thing I made for you when I had time."
"For me?" a thin voice arrived as he started to twist.
"Don't turn!" she ordered sharply softening it immediately with a polite expansion. "You'll destroy my work."
Wiggling he suffered through the last few turns and twists as she tied his hair. Finally finished, she signalled he could go. Lifting from the chair, he ghosted over the top of his head, confirming that it was indeed a simple ponytail as he suspected, albeit a short one.
Startled by Kagome fingertips skimming over his cheek, he held his breath as she brushed away the loose strands, tucking them behind his ear.
"I was right. This look suits you." She smiled wistfully, dropping the hand and turning to clean the mess he made earlier.
Frowning, his jaw clenched. There was something there…something important… but he wasn't sure what exactly. Fisting his hands in frustration, he stood frozen to the ground. It was Kagome body sweeping around his that broke his stupor but it was too late then. She was gone.
Later, during the night when he played with the first ever gift received, he promised himself, he will become a better man. He will become a better man at this… whatever it was.
The passionate oath witnessed by a wooden carving of Kirara's head.
A/N - This work has been inspired by a drawing of Bucky Barnes making a selfie with a hello Kitty hair tie (it's out there – I would add the link but fanfiction will remove it so why bother?). The chapter might be entirely too long for it's own good but I like it regardless. I hope you enjoyed.
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