"Close your eyes Miko!"
Sesshomaru's voice held a thread of frustration in it. Kagome almost wanted to smirk at the thought that she could now hear the demon lords emotions, but frustration overpowered the impulse.
"This is so hard! I didn't even know this 'mind's eye' existed until an hour ago, and you want me to see with it already?" Her arms crossed over her chest, her black hair tousled from running her hands through it, she was the picture of a mess. Sesshomaru just sighed.
"It is you who requested training from this one, Miko,"
"And don't I regret it," she muttered under her breath. They stood in a small glade, oak trees arching overhead. Everything was in full growth, the grass and small wildflowers lush under her feet. A breeze alternately stirred the hair around her face. Not that she was enjoying the lovely afternoon, with her eyes closed at the moment. The children were playing a ways off, with Jaken left to oversee them. She knew her companion trusted the imp, but regardless, it made her uneasy to leave the small beings.
True, she had asked Sesshomaru to help her control her powers more. She did not want to feel as out of control and exhausted again as she had upon healing him and Shippou. So, after resting up for a day, here she stood. Pointlessly trying to picture Sesshomaru's aura with her mind's eye. She was definitely beginning to regret that request after seeing no progress. Sesshomaru's deep voice, almost a growl, captured her attention.
"Start at the beginning again, Miko. Picture a small brook. It flows smoothly, clear and crystal water. It joins a river, rushing but calm. The river joins the sea, which widens to envelop the world. Imagine yourself slipping into this brook, this river, imagine yourself in the energies of the world." His voice took on an almost chant like quality by the end.
Kagome huffed, she had already heard this imagery from him. It was supposed to help one feel in touch with the underlying energy that every being possessed, help tap into it. Not that the exercise had worked yet. But nevertheless, she would try again.
She pictured a stream, silvery in the moonlight, with happy babbling sounds to accompany. She slowed her breathing, trying to lose herself in the image, in the water as it joined a rushing river, a pulse of silver, that flowed into the wide ocean… it moved rhythmically, like breath, like the pulsing of a heart that fueled the world… and she moved with it, she felt drawn into the pulse, she was the movement…
Suddenly, a whole new world of light blinked into existence against her closed eyes. Keeping them shut, she swung her head around. The world was still grey, but everything alive seemed to be a point of light against it. The plants and grass were a dull grey light, the trees outlined brighter. Tiny spots of green flared in the ground, worms and flies and spiders existing in harmony. Brighter greens marked themselves out as animals, rabbits hidden underground, song birds flitting in the tree's. Her 'vision' seemed to only exist in a circular radius, fading away about five feet from her. How could she not be overwhelmed and humbled by this view of the world? Everything seemed to be on equal footing here, so connected. She took a hesitant step forward, and was abruptly blinded.
A blinding mass of gold streaked with magenta and white sparks was in front of her. It made the plants and animals so dull as to be forgotten. This energy, it felt familiar. Regal, but hot and burning. It made her want to bow, to accept that this presence was old and powerful.
Shaking, her eyes flitted open and the colors slid out of existence. Sesshomaru stood before her, his expression a touch curious. She wondered how nothing of his snowy appearance came through to his energy, it was all molten gold.
"Was that… your energy? That word doesn't feel right," she whispered, lost in the majesty of the moment.
Sesshomaru gazed at her appraisingly, glad that she seemed to have grasped the exercise. "What you learnt to see, Miko, is the aura that all things of this world possess. It is the embodiment of the energy of life. One cannot see their own, however," He said thoughtfully.
Her eyes grew wide. "Really? So you don't know how you appeared to me? Wait, I'll never get to know if my aura is as pretty as yours?"
Sesshomaru lifted a lip in a sneer. "I may not be able to see it, but I am aware that this one's presence is not something to be merely mocked." Her face turned a light pink and her hands moved to her hips in indignation.
"Mocked? Sesshomaru, that was a compliment! You're all gold and sparks and brightness that drowned out everything else. Pretty isn't the right word sure, but it almost seems rude to call someone overwhelming." She rolled her eyes, but she should have been used to the ego of dog demons by now. "Speaking of, why can I only 'see' for about 5 feet around myself? Doesn't seem like a useful sensing tool," she grumbled lightly.
Sesshomaru was trying very hard not to preen at her comment. He had almost thought that the woman was impervious to his presence as she rarely ever showed any fear. But overwhelming? What about him inspired that reaction in her?
"Your awareness will expand as you continue to practice and improve," he murmured as he stepped closer. Her eyes grew, a blush expanding at their sudden closeness. "Overwhelming?" he said softly.
"Uh… yes? Your aura is all golden and fiery and hot and not like you at all," She whispered, her cheeks changing from a soft pink to a hot red. Sesshomaru smirked at her, leaning in close before he replied.
"Not like me at all? What would you know of this one's fiery side?" he growled at her. The poor girl was wider eyed than he had ever seen, and she gulped lightly, her cheeks flaring crimson.
"I-I didn't think one existed, ou-outside of battle," she breathed, staring up into molten gold eyes. His smile grew even wider, and he leaned down further. One alabaster clawed hand reached out and brushed a lock of inky hair behind her ear just as his lips reached the side of her face.
"Then you, miko, have much to learn," he said huskily before withdrawing and turning around. "Again, from the top," he spoke normally now.
Kagome lifted a hand to her cheek, still hot from Sesshomaru's breath upon it. What had just happened? And why did she have such a needy feeling in the pit of her stomach?
XX thanks for reading! A little bit of fluff lol. Please review!